When you don't do your job properly, and I point it out to you nicely, don't give me that attitude face. I did not scold you. In fact, you have been missing many spots in the house.
We have been relatively relaxed and don't impose many rules or restrictions on you. We don't check on you and give you the flexibility to handle the chores on your own schedule and ways.
But.
If there are dustballs in that particular area, it means that you have not cleaned that area for months. If there are brown spots on the soap dish, it means you have not cleaned that dish for months. If there are stains on an area, it means you have not cleaned that area for months.
So don't give me any attitude when I tell you to clean those areas.
You're allowed full access to whatever's in the fridge, freezer and food cupboards.
You get to enjoy a 3 to 3.5hr nap and quiet time each afternoon. We don't.
You don't even need to get up in the middle of the night if the kids wake.
Sigh.
Sheesh.
Friday, June 19, 2020
Thursday, June 18, 2020
ganbatte!
Spent the last 1 hr plus or 2 hrs....helping S and D with each of their stuff.
Spent 3/4 of yesterday helping J out for the upcoming Board meeting because it's his first time handling and his partner L (who was supposed to guide him) is out of action these few days due to family matters...
Laoniang is superwoman....
Or should I say...
Laoniang is jack of all trades?
Or...
Laoniang is dope!
Lol....
Ganbatte......!
Spent 3/4 of yesterday helping J out for the upcoming Board meeting because it's his first time handling and his partner L (who was supposed to guide him) is out of action these few days due to family matters...
Laoniang is superwoman....
Or should I say...
Laoniang is jack of all trades?
Or...
Laoniang is dope!
Lol....
Ganbatte......!
work
On the workfront...Several projects are hitting snags.
There's one long-drawn project which hit several administrative obstacles last year...and then now yet another major stumbling block. Sensitive as this involves an international not-for-profit organisation and certain diplomacies are "required". Sigh...
Another 3 or 4 which are somehow taking a long time to iron things out...you fix one bit and move on and then another hole appears that you need to patch or a spur appears that you need to pare down.
Ganbatte....ganbatte...ganbatte...
I want to tick things off my to-do list...I have done so for some stuff but these few things....aiyoh...irksome!!
There's one long-drawn project which hit several administrative obstacles last year...and then now yet another major stumbling block. Sensitive as this involves an international not-for-profit organisation and certain diplomacies are "required". Sigh...
Another 3 or 4 which are somehow taking a long time to iron things out...you fix one bit and move on and then another hole appears that you need to patch or a spur appears that you need to pare down.
Ganbatte....ganbatte...ganbatte...
I want to tick things off my to-do list...I have done so for some stuff but these few things....aiyoh...irksome!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Of Maths.....and.....oh well....
When you are doing HBL with your kid
When you are near her side when she is having a live session with her Math teacher
When you realise some of her classmates have already shouted out their answers and your kid is still staring at the sum and trying to calculate....
When you realise this doesn't happen for just one sum but seems to be a pattern across most sums
You start wondering which part of the bell curve is she at exactly, both within the class and within the cohort
You start wondering if you need to do more and if so, how
You start wondering if your kid (and you) can survive primary school in time to come
You start wondering how your younger kid will be like in 2 years' time
LOL....
piangzzzz
When you are near her side when she is having a live session with her Math teacher
When you realise some of her classmates have already shouted out their answers and your kid is still staring at the sum and trying to calculate....
When you realise this doesn't happen for just one sum but seems to be a pattern across most sums
You start wondering which part of the bell curve is she at exactly, both within the class and within the cohort
You start wondering if you need to do more and if so, how
You start wondering if your kid (and you) can survive primary school in time to come
You start wondering how your younger kid will be like in 2 years' time
LOL....
piangzzzz
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Ganbatte!
Tmr's the start of a new week.
It'll be a busy Monday, with a meeting starting at 8am. zzzzz.....Another conference call at 10am
And then the company townhall at 1130am.
A parent-teacher conference at 2pm.
And a discussion that might happen but not confirmed yet.
And I would really like to head out for a walk. I've not done so for the last 3 evenings. It rained everytime! I hope it happens tomorrow. There's a barrier I'd like to cross. A barrier that is both psychological and physical.
==============
A team meeting at 9am (and likely till 12pm) on Tuesday morning.
A webinar at 12:45pm on Wednesday.
A potential dispute case that might go to the courts.
A tricky situation with an international partner....
==============
May the week go well enough!
Ganbatte!!!
It'll be a busy Monday, with a meeting starting at 8am. zzzzz.....Another conference call at 10am
And then the company townhall at 1130am.
A parent-teacher conference at 2pm.
And a discussion that might happen but not confirmed yet.
And I would really like to head out for a walk. I've not done so for the last 3 evenings. It rained everytime! I hope it happens tomorrow. There's a barrier I'd like to cross. A barrier that is both psychological and physical.
==============
A team meeting at 9am (and likely till 12pm) on Tuesday morning.
A webinar at 12:45pm on Wednesday.
A potential dispute case that might go to the courts.
A tricky situation with an international partner....
==============
May the week go well enough!
Ganbatte!!!
Plant time
Spruce-up time
Spent some time in the main balcony today. With a little helper in tow. Nana.
Got her to do the simple stuff like picking up dead/dried leaves from the floor, and picking them up (with a gardening tweezer) from within the pots. Took the opportunity to teach her some stuff about the Byrophyllum plants we have, and how they produce their little baby plants. And showed her the leaf patterns of the Indian Borage, and she helped to point out dead leaves on plants so I could remove them.
It was fun for me doing this with her and I hope she had fun too.
She said to me "I wish we could have our own garden".
Yes, sweetie. I'd like a garden of my own too....but it's unlikely to happen...so we'll just have fun in our balconies haha...:)
Byrophyllum
Aside from the 2 small pots of baby aloe vera that the girls have, they now also have 2 tiny pots of byrophyllum as well. Planted them this evening. :)
I prepared the soil and pots and the girls placed the babies into the pots themselves. It's a very easy plant to care for and the plantlets root damn easily. You really don't have to do much at all. Just give them enough moisture that's all.
I've currently 2 or 3 pots of this....well 5 if you include the girls' pots. I've thrown away many many small babies...and I would probably have maybe 50 pots of this plant now (or more) if I'd bothered to salvage and plant all those plantlets. It's probably the only succulent that the klutzy me can handle lol....
p/s: just found out this evening while reading up some stuff on the Internet, that the Byrophyllum is also known as the Mother of Thousands or the Kalanchoe or the Devil's Backbone.
Moss Rose
This little lady is a sassy one with attitude. She's bounced back beautifully from her battle with the mealybugs. New shoots appear every other day and she's also grown long and tall new stalks. Tall because they reach out for the sun. Quite cute to see those stalks like this.
Since that day when a lone pink flower finally bloomed, she's been blessing me with one small but bright pink flower every 2 days or so. It's a far cry from the early days when she first came to me though. Back then, she'd bloom like 6-10 flowers each day...easily. Still, I'm happy that she's progressed well, compared to just 1 or 2 months ago when she was ravaged by those damn bugs.
Japanese bamboo
It is shedding less now, but still looks a little shaky. I hope no more leaves turn yellow or drop anymore. I didn't do much to this fella, except to shift its location from the main balcony to my own balcony. And it's placed in a shadier area with no direct sun. It's still in its pot. I decided against re-potting it. Didn't want to stress it further. Relocation can already bring stress to a plant. If I repot it as well, skali it gets more stressed.
Good thing is that its tallest and main stalk has a new leaf unfurling at its tip.
Will keep this fella under close watch and see how....
Ficus Ginseng
The original one I had in the normal pot recently started shedding. I don't know why...:(
It went almost botak a year back. And then it slowly started growing new leaves a few months back. Though it never got back to its original state and was rather sparse. I was still happy but then now it's started shedding again. Leaves turned yellow and kept dropping...Didn't really spot many new shoots too so...I'm just wondering what to do with it.
The ficus ginseng in the green bonsai pot is doing ok....an occasional leaf turns yellow and falls off but so far it seems ok. I see some new shoots coming out so I'm hopeful...
Water Plum
This lady...has sprouted many new shoots and I spotted many new bunches of flower buds or at least the beginnings of what would become new clumps of flower buds. I hope many many new leaves spring up soon. To replace the sudden leaf dropping episode last week...I'd never seen that many leaves drop from this lady before...It scared me a little and I was hoping she wouldn't go botak on me.
Anyway, I've not figured out what to do with the bunch of seeds that I'd collected from the 2 seed pods a few weeks ago. Hmm....my balcony doesn't attract any pollinators at all (being on the 4th floor, and less accessible to bees and insects? haha...) so even if I have flowers blooming regularly from this plant, it is unlikely I will ever get any of them pollinated and produce seed pods later on.
Local pomegranate
This old lady...is going strong, although she constantly looks like she's half gone, in recent weeks, she started sprouting new shoots and new leaves. Perhaps it's due to me fertilising her soil or due to the recent rains bringing more minerals and nutrients to her. But I noticed several areas where new leaves and branches forming. That's good...:)
Only thing is, she also has many many dead branches. I've tried trimming them off but there're just too many of them....I'll just leave her be...again. She seems resilient enough to weather most difficulties herself. ;p
Spent some time in the main balcony today. With a little helper in tow. Nana.
Got her to do the simple stuff like picking up dead/dried leaves from the floor, and picking them up (with a gardening tweezer) from within the pots. Took the opportunity to teach her some stuff about the Byrophyllum plants we have, and how they produce their little baby plants. And showed her the leaf patterns of the Indian Borage, and she helped to point out dead leaves on plants so I could remove them.
It was fun for me doing this with her and I hope she had fun too.
She said to me "I wish we could have our own garden".
Yes, sweetie. I'd like a garden of my own too....but it's unlikely to happen...so we'll just have fun in our balconies haha...:)
Byrophyllum
Aside from the 2 small pots of baby aloe vera that the girls have, they now also have 2 tiny pots of byrophyllum as well. Planted them this evening. :)
I prepared the soil and pots and the girls placed the babies into the pots themselves. It's a very easy plant to care for and the plantlets root damn easily. You really don't have to do much at all. Just give them enough moisture that's all.
I've currently 2 or 3 pots of this....well 5 if you include the girls' pots. I've thrown away many many small babies...and I would probably have maybe 50 pots of this plant now (or more) if I'd bothered to salvage and plant all those plantlets. It's probably the only succulent that the klutzy me can handle lol....
p/s: just found out this evening while reading up some stuff on the Internet, that the Byrophyllum is also known as the Mother of Thousands or the Kalanchoe or the Devil's Backbone.
Moss Rose
This little lady is a sassy one with attitude. She's bounced back beautifully from her battle with the mealybugs. New shoots appear every other day and she's also grown long and tall new stalks. Tall because they reach out for the sun. Quite cute to see those stalks like this.
Since that day when a lone pink flower finally bloomed, she's been blessing me with one small but bright pink flower every 2 days or so. It's a far cry from the early days when she first came to me though. Back then, she'd bloom like 6-10 flowers each day...easily. Still, I'm happy that she's progressed well, compared to just 1 or 2 months ago when she was ravaged by those damn bugs.
Japanese bamboo
It is shedding less now, but still looks a little shaky. I hope no more leaves turn yellow or drop anymore. I didn't do much to this fella, except to shift its location from the main balcony to my own balcony. And it's placed in a shadier area with no direct sun. It's still in its pot. I decided against re-potting it. Didn't want to stress it further. Relocation can already bring stress to a plant. If I repot it as well, skali it gets more stressed.
Good thing is that its tallest and main stalk has a new leaf unfurling at its tip.
Will keep this fella under close watch and see how....
Ficus Ginseng
The original one I had in the normal pot recently started shedding. I don't know why...:(
It went almost botak a year back. And then it slowly started growing new leaves a few months back. Though it never got back to its original state and was rather sparse. I was still happy but then now it's started shedding again. Leaves turned yellow and kept dropping...Didn't really spot many new shoots too so...I'm just wondering what to do with it.
The ficus ginseng in the green bonsai pot is doing ok....an occasional leaf turns yellow and falls off but so far it seems ok. I see some new shoots coming out so I'm hopeful...
Water Plum
This lady...has sprouted many new shoots and I spotted many new bunches of flower buds or at least the beginnings of what would become new clumps of flower buds. I hope many many new leaves spring up soon. To replace the sudden leaf dropping episode last week...I'd never seen that many leaves drop from this lady before...It scared me a little and I was hoping she wouldn't go botak on me.
Anyway, I've not figured out what to do with the bunch of seeds that I'd collected from the 2 seed pods a few weeks ago. Hmm....my balcony doesn't attract any pollinators at all (being on the 4th floor, and less accessible to bees and insects? haha...) so even if I have flowers blooming regularly from this plant, it is unlikely I will ever get any of them pollinated and produce seed pods later on.
Local pomegranate
This old lady...is going strong, although she constantly looks like she's half gone, in recent weeks, she started sprouting new shoots and new leaves. Perhaps it's due to me fertilising her soil or due to the recent rains bringing more minerals and nutrients to her. But I noticed several areas where new leaves and branches forming. That's good...:)
Only thing is, she also has many many dead branches. I've tried trimming them off but there're just too many of them....I'll just leave her be...again. She seems resilient enough to weather most difficulties herself. ;p
Friday, June 12, 2020
Birdspeak
Just a random thought of thankfulness.
There's a wide species of birds residing in my area. At least to the layman me, I feel there's really many different birdies here.
Growing up, I only ever saw sparrows and mynahs. For some reason, in the past few years here in Telok Kurau, and especially in the past 3 months when I've been home all the time, I've discovered so many different birdies here!
Many parakeets around - blue ones, green ones, yellow ones.
Orioles too...yellow and black ones...I googled and I think they're called Black-Naped Orioles.
Hornbills and koels too...though koels seem to be around lesser these days.
Went for a walk yesterday and saw many sunbirds (I think they are sunbirds) congregating in a clump of bushes...playing around and darting about with each other...
And of course, the ubiquitous sparrows and mynahs and pigeons and doves....
And should I include the neighbourhood chickens too? haha....there's a family of at least 6 roosters 6 hens and maybe 3-4 younger ones hanging around about 500m from our house...
Listening to all the birds chirping each morning has been quite the luxury...:)
Brings more depth and cheer to the environment....
There's a wide species of birds residing in my area. At least to the layman me, I feel there's really many different birdies here.
Growing up, I only ever saw sparrows and mynahs. For some reason, in the past few years here in Telok Kurau, and especially in the past 3 months when I've been home all the time, I've discovered so many different birdies here!
Many parakeets around - blue ones, green ones, yellow ones.
Orioles too...yellow and black ones...I googled and I think they're called Black-Naped Orioles.
Hornbills and koels too...though koels seem to be around lesser these days.
Went for a walk yesterday and saw many sunbirds (I think they are sunbirds) congregating in a clump of bushes...playing around and darting about with each other...
And of course, the ubiquitous sparrows and mynahs and pigeons and doves....
And should I include the neighbourhood chickens too? haha....there's a family of at least 6 roosters 6 hens and maybe 3-4 younger ones hanging around about 500m from our house...
Listening to all the birds chirping each morning has been quite the luxury...:)
Brings more depth and cheer to the environment....
Support
It's important who your co-workers are.
We are a small team of 12-13 pax. At least 2 irk me. I used to think maybe our 八字 don't match...till I discovered that others in the team face the same frustration (or more) when dealing with these 2.
Still, I am very thankful I have the rest of the team whom I can get along with. And amongst these are a couple whom I am quite close to and have come to rely on both as friends and as colleagues.
I refer to them as my pillars in the team...for shelter, for support, for strength, for companionship, for comradeship, for fun, for laughter, for peace, for joy..
Here's to ST, DC and LH and to a lesser extent, SP and Mas as well....
Thank you!
We are a small team of 12-13 pax. At least 2 irk me. I used to think maybe our 八字 don't match...till I discovered that others in the team face the same frustration (or more) when dealing with these 2.
Still, I am very thankful I have the rest of the team whom I can get along with. And amongst these are a couple whom I am quite close to and have come to rely on both as friends and as colleagues.
I refer to them as my pillars in the team...for shelter, for support, for strength, for companionship, for comradeship, for fun, for laughter, for peace, for joy..
Here's to ST, DC and LH and to a lesser extent, SP and Mas as well....
Thank you!
Music
Music days are back, at least for this week...
Back to immersing myself in Chinese songs, every since I listened to mini live broadcast Sun Yan Zi had on Tuesday night.
Folks accompanying me these 2 days:
Wang Feng
Zhou Shen
Sun Yan Zi
Hacken Lee
GEM
David Tao
Tanya
JJ
Beyond
MayDay
A good mix of singers from mainland China, HK, Taiwan and of course....Singapore.
Gaining strength from music. :)
Back to immersing myself in Chinese songs, every since I listened to mini live broadcast Sun Yan Zi had on Tuesday night.
Folks accompanying me these 2 days:
Wang Feng
Zhou Shen
Sun Yan Zi
Hacken Lee
GEM
David Tao
Tanya
JJ
Beyond
MayDay
A good mix of singers from mainland China, HK, Taiwan and of course....Singapore.
Gaining strength from music. :)
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Fighting! Hae su-iss-eo!
It was a long day yesterday. Feeling a little out of gas today...the oven-like temperature these few days is not helping too.
Started work at 7-ish yesterday and lasted till 8-plus at night, due to an exercise that I was involved in.
Had to then nag at and help Nadya to pack her bag for school today, and tend to Alyssa when she sought my attention....by the time I got out the shower, it was 9-plus and I felt quite zapped out.
Nevertheless..fighting for today!
Started work at 7-ish yesterday and lasted till 8-plus at night, due to an exercise that I was involved in.
Had to then nag at and help Nadya to pack her bag for school today, and tend to Alyssa when she sought my attention....by the time I got out the shower, it was 9-plus and I felt quite zapped out.
Nevertheless..fighting for today!
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
Tummy
Oh that sour acidic feeling in your tummy the moment you wake.
That breathlessness that it sometimes causes.
That chest discomfort that it sometimes brings.
That tightness in the upper gut.
And even that middle back ache.
Tummy...争气一点!
Get well soon pls!
Is the milo at night making you worse? If so....I'll skip it even though it brings me much warmth and comfort....
Did the apples bring more acid to you? If so, I'll skip them too....
Do you want more water? If so...I'll drink more today....
Feeding you with toast this morning...it's been said that toast helps with diarrhoea and other stomach discomfort....
Get well soon ok....
That breathlessness that it sometimes causes.
That chest discomfort that it sometimes brings.
That tightness in the upper gut.
And even that middle back ache.
Tummy...争气一点!
Get well soon pls!
Is the milo at night making you worse? If so....I'll skip it even though it brings me much warmth and comfort....
Did the apples bring more acid to you? If so, I'll skip them too....
Do you want more water? If so...I'll drink more today....
Feeding you with toast this morning...it's been said that toast helps with diarrhoea and other stomach discomfort....
Get well soon ok....
How Time Flies
We're into June already.
Time seems to pass faster as each year goes by.
And yep, I say this every year.
The days are long sometimes, but the years are short.
Still learning how to be more positive, manage myself and keep going.
Doing better.
Slowly but surely.
Yeah!
Time seems to pass faster as each year goes by.
And yep, I say this every year.
The days are long sometimes, but the years are short.
Still learning how to be more positive, manage myself and keep going.
Doing better.
Slowly but surely.
Yeah!
Monday, June 08, 2020
Tummy woes
Friday evening, I had too much for dinner. I could feel some discomfort in the gut. That unmistakable feeling of bloatedness and indigestion. I could only have my own greediness to blame.
Saturday, our usual ordering-in day. Domino's pizza. That did me in...
I've not taken pizza for a meal for a long time. Even during National Day last year when we last ordered it, I remember taking very little of it. I took 2 slices for Saturday's lunch. The cheese was probably too much for me.
Chui after that.
This constant discomfort in the gut, and slight diarrhoea. And other symptoms which have not appeared for a long time, including bitterness in the mouth (from the acid), and more difficulty swallowing (like there's something extra in the throat/oesophagus).
I'm thankful though that it's not a bad case. The niggling nagging discomfort and tightness in the upper gut is till somewhat manageable. It's Day 3...hope it goes away soon....
Saturday, our usual ordering-in day. Domino's pizza. That did me in...
I've not taken pizza for a meal for a long time. Even during National Day last year when we last ordered it, I remember taking very little of it. I took 2 slices for Saturday's lunch. The cheese was probably too much for me.
Chui after that.
This constant discomfort in the gut, and slight diarrhoea. And other symptoms which have not appeared for a long time, including bitterness in the mouth (from the acid), and more difficulty swallowing (like there's something extra in the throat/oesophagus).
I'm thankful though that it's not a bad case. The niggling nagging discomfort and tightness in the upper gut is till somewhat manageable. It's Day 3...hope it goes away soon....
Of songs...and little girls
Been letting the girls listen to some songs recently...and getting them acquainted with oldies (but goodies) and other newer (but still as classic) songs :)
Amongst them:
- Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight - The Spanials
- Yakety Yak - The Coasters
- Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
- Lollipop - The Chordettes
- 温柔 - 五月天
What's up next?
Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin
And other good stuff by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, some Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck maybe?
Mixed Feelings
Glad
That the girls are in school, getting social interaction with their peers and learning in a proper environment under the guidance of trained teachers and not this pseudo Mama-attempting-to-be-a-teacher-while-half-distracted-by-work person.
Half-worried
The virus is still out there and veiled in some asymptomatic carriers. Of course it's worrying. At the back of my mind, there's a niggling thought there. And I believe most parents have this thought as well. We can only keep our fingers crossed. Some parents seem to be intent on keeping their kids at home and home-schooling them for the time being. Can't say it's right or wrong. I can only remind the girls not to touch their faces, and to stay clean and sanitise or wash their hands regularly. But kids being kids, they may say "ok" now...and then forget about it 5mins later.
Glad
That I can work or take a break in peace now and not get distracted by not-so-tiny voices seeking my attention, or their shenanigans..
Half-Emo
Yeah, part of me is glad they are out of the house. And the other half of me is missing them. Missing their hugs and kisses and affections and mischievious grins and pretty smiles. Oh, the irony.
That the girls are in school, getting social interaction with their peers and learning in a proper environment under the guidance of trained teachers and not this pseudo Mama-attempting-to-be-a-teacher-while-half-distracted-by-work person.
Half-worried
The virus is still out there and veiled in some asymptomatic carriers. Of course it's worrying. At the back of my mind, there's a niggling thought there. And I believe most parents have this thought as well. We can only keep our fingers crossed. Some parents seem to be intent on keeping their kids at home and home-schooling them for the time being. Can't say it's right or wrong. I can only remind the girls not to touch their faces, and to stay clean and sanitise or wash their hands regularly. But kids being kids, they may say "ok" now...and then forget about it 5mins later.
Glad
That I can work or take a break in peace now and not get distracted by not-so-tiny voices seeking my attention, or their shenanigans..
Half-Emo
Yeah, part of me is glad they are out of the house. And the other half of me is missing them. Missing their hugs and kisses and affections and mischievious grins and pretty smiles. Oh, the irony.
Friday, June 05, 2020
Birdie
Recently, a black and yellow bird has been visiting my balcony. Ever since I hung up a bunch of erm....half dead Spanish moss near the balcony railing. Not the living room balcony but the one at my room. I've seen that bird 3 times now in the past week. I hope it visits us again. Not sure what it is, an oriole? But when I Googled, it looks a little different from the black-naped oriole that is common in Singapore.
Share with K an idea I had and he said he thought about it before as well. I was thinking of getting a bird-feeder and hanging it from our balcony. To feed whatever birds that come visit us. We've had some sparrows and mynahs swing by as well, though very rarely.
There are cheap ones on Shopee...i might buy one soon....:)
Share with K an idea I had and he said he thought about it before as well. I was thinking of getting a bird-feeder and hanging it from our balcony. To feed whatever birds that come visit us. We've had some sparrows and mynahs swing by as well, though very rarely.
There are cheap ones on Shopee...i might buy one soon....:)
Thursday, June 04, 2020
Oh my plants...
Sigh...my plants...it's either one or the other who will give me a headache.
Miss Water Plum is now suddenly protesting and many leaves are turning yellow. Just when I thought I did a good job of nursing it back to health after the mealybug infestation. Maybe I shouldn't have put fertiliser on it. Maybe I shouldn't have sprayed it with the organic insecticide last week.
So which caused the yellowing leaves? The insecticide? The fertiliser?
Sigh...see how it goes.....
Moss Rose! One flower finally bloomed! I was so happy this morning when I saw that lone pink bud appeared. After 3 months of fighting against the mealybugs and trimming it almost bare...it started sprouting new buds and shoots a few weeks ago and over the past week experienced a growth spurt after the heavy rains...Grow well please! And may more flowers bloom!
Japanese Bamboo
This fella is still not doing well. leaves are dropping left, right and centre. It looks really bare now. Could be root rot.....cos I plucked out a stem just now....and it came off easily...
I need to find time to repot it....hopefully that solves the issue....
I need to find time to trim the main Indian Borage plant too and pass to our neighbour....
Miss Water Plum is now suddenly protesting and many leaves are turning yellow. Just when I thought I did a good job of nursing it back to health after the mealybug infestation. Maybe I shouldn't have put fertiliser on it. Maybe I shouldn't have sprayed it with the organic insecticide last week.
So which caused the yellowing leaves? The insecticide? The fertiliser?
Sigh...see how it goes.....
Moss Rose! One flower finally bloomed! I was so happy this morning when I saw that lone pink bud appeared. After 3 months of fighting against the mealybugs and trimming it almost bare...it started sprouting new buds and shoots a few weeks ago and over the past week experienced a growth spurt after the heavy rains...Grow well please! And may more flowers bloom!
Japanese Bamboo
This fella is still not doing well. leaves are dropping left, right and centre. It looks really bare now. Could be root rot.....cos I plucked out a stem just now....and it came off easily...
I need to find time to repot it....hopefully that solves the issue....
I need to find time to trim the main Indian Borage plant too and pass to our neighbour....
Monday, June 01, 2020
........
When you are still plagued by doubts, uncertainties and worries.
It is strange. I was worried too about making big chances when I was younger but I guess stakes were lower then with no commitments (except to self). My worries were not so great and my adrenalin and bravado (or foolhardiness) was much higher then. I was also more carefree and just went with the flow. I didn't hem and haw so much...
Stakes are higher now? With kids, with own age and health to consider, etc.
I think I am just muddling myself up.
Again.
It is strange. I was worried too about making big chances when I was younger but I guess stakes were lower then with no commitments (except to self). My worries were not so great and my adrenalin and bravado (or foolhardiness) was much higher then. I was also more carefree and just went with the flow. I didn't hem and haw so much...
Stakes are higher now? With kids, with own age and health to consider, etc.
I think I am just muddling myself up.
Again.
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Ruminating
Presented with an opportunity.
For the first time in a very long while.
Maybe 7-8yrs.
Hesitating.
Dilemma.
Can I handle it?
Do I want to remain status quo?
Am I brave and strong enough?
For the first time in a very long while.
Maybe 7-8yrs.
Hesitating.
Dilemma.
Can I handle it?
Do I want to remain status quo?
Am I brave and strong enough?
Friday, May 29, 2020
I feel you
https://www.koreaboo.com/stories/seventeen-scoups-breaks-opening-anxiety/
"I hated myself so much at that time."
"...I thought I should hold on until I can push the limit."
"....as that anxiety increased, I felt more uneasy and scared."
"It's continued for a long time, longer than you would think."
- S.Coups
Even though I don't you personally, I feel you. And whatever you said in that article resonated with me alot. I didn't hate myself that much I think. I spent more time trying to calm the storm & gales within me.
I hope you're feeling better after your hiatus. You know yourself best. There's a reason why there's the phrase "being self-aware". If you need to take a break again, please do so. A breather goes a long way, even if it's a short one.
"I hated myself so much at that time."
"...I thought I should hold on until I can push the limit."
"....as that anxiety increased, I felt more uneasy and scared."
"It's continued for a long time, longer than you would think."
- S.Coups
Even though I don't you personally, I feel you. And whatever you said in that article resonated with me alot. I didn't hate myself that much I think. I spent more time trying to calm the storm & gales within me.
I hope you're feeling better after your hiatus. You know yourself best. There's a reason why there's the phrase "being self-aware". If you need to take a break again, please do so. A breather goes a long way, even if it's a short one.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Burst. Of happiness.
When your table and new table lamp have arrived. From Lazada and Shopee.
And you’re happy and thankful to finally have a desk of your own.
When what’s been bothering you has lifted.
And you’re happy and thankful things are so.
When you had a good session reconnecting with some colleagues online.
And you’re happy and thankful they have your back at work.
You draw. :)
And you’re happy and thankful to finally have a desk of your own.
When what’s been bothering you has lifted.
And you’re happy and thankful things are so.
When you had a good session reconnecting with some colleagues online.
And you’re happy and thankful they have your back at work.
You draw. :)
Monday, May 25, 2020
random
Japanese bamboo is really not doing well. Many stalks are turning yellow.
Not sure why...root rot?
Need to repot the girls' aloes as well...they are turning brown and grey and generally not doing well, unlike all my other aloes. Maybe the soil mix I did wasn't good...too much coco coir inside maybe and not enough potting soil...
Reminding myself that next time, I will not get another foxtail fern anymore...Their leaves shed like crazy...and each leaf is a thin strand of 0.5mm thick and maybe 1cm long...constant sweeping needed lol....
Waiting, anticipating, hoping for the moss rose to bloom again...there are big buds but they don't seem to bloom and sometimes end up drying up....:( damn those bugs....
==========
left cheek, left gums.
the swelling has gone down quite abit.
but there is still residual swelling.
it's day 5.
hope it goes away fully soon.
i really do need to do something about those wisdom teeth.
sigh.
==========
有时候觉得这家没有真正属于我的空间
上厕所有时都有人敲门要你
晚上要画画写字也不知可去哪里
有时只想一个人静静的躲在一旁听歌或做东西
自己陪自己
Not sure why...root rot?
Need to repot the girls' aloes as well...they are turning brown and grey and generally not doing well, unlike all my other aloes. Maybe the soil mix I did wasn't good...too much coco coir inside maybe and not enough potting soil...
Reminding myself that next time, I will not get another foxtail fern anymore...Their leaves shed like crazy...and each leaf is a thin strand of 0.5mm thick and maybe 1cm long...constant sweeping needed lol....
Waiting, anticipating, hoping for the moss rose to bloom again...there are big buds but they don't seem to bloom and sometimes end up drying up....:( damn those bugs....
==========
left cheek, left gums.
the swelling has gone down quite abit.
but there is still residual swelling.
it's day 5.
hope it goes away fully soon.
i really do need to do something about those wisdom teeth.
sigh.
==========
有时候觉得这家没有真正属于我的空间
上厕所有时都有人敲门要你
晚上要画画写字也不知可去哪里
有时只想一个人静静的躲在一旁听歌或做东西
自己陪自己
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Bugs
Discovered 2 mealybugs on the Water Plum this morning. Maybe I should switch to calling it the Water Jasmine instead as it seems to be the more commonly known name.
Guess I’ve not managed to fully eradicate the bugs. NB. #%}]>&$?!;@¥£^#!!!
My organic fertilizer was delivered yesterday. Will give the plant a good spray later this evening.
And will try to give the plant a good look over before that and pluck off whatever bug I can find.
War has started again.
Bah, just when I thought it was over.
Guess I’ve not managed to fully eradicate the bugs. NB. #%}]>&$?!;@¥£^#!!!
My organic fertilizer was delivered yesterday. Will give the plant a good spray later this evening.
And will try to give the plant a good look over before that and pluck off whatever bug I can find.
War has started again.
Bah, just when I thought it was over.
Tenant no more
Just when the girls decided to name the caterpillar on my pomegranate plant Catty, it decided to kaput on us.
On Thursday morning, we noticed that it was hanging by its back legs from a branch. We thought it was getting ready to spin a cocoon. By evening, it was in the same position and nothing seemed to have changed.
Friday, it was still in the same position, nothing had changed except that it looked like it was drying up. I knew it had died but not sure why. Half of me was still wondering if this was part of the metamorphosis stage. But by Saturday morning, we confirmed it had died lah. As it was really drying up and was still in the same position.
We removed it from the plant and threw it away.
Bye Catty..May you get the chance to turn into beautiful butterfly in your next life.
On Thursday morning, we noticed that it was hanging by its back legs from a branch. We thought it was getting ready to spin a cocoon. By evening, it was in the same position and nothing seemed to have changed.
Friday, it was still in the same position, nothing had changed except that it looked like it was drying up. I knew it had died but not sure why. Half of me was still wondering if this was part of the metamorphosis stage. But by Saturday morning, we confirmed it had died lah. As it was really drying up and was still in the same position.
We removed it from the plant and threw it away.
Bye Catty..May you get the chance to turn into beautiful butterfly in your next life.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Record-breaking
There was a record number of deliveries to our house today lol.
1. Airplants came (disappointing but I’ll leave the story for another day)
2. Salmon from Apollo Marine
3. One of K’s packages
4. Potting soil and organic insecticide from Greenspade
5. Surprise Aroma truffle chips from Ally!
6. My desk (Yes finally!! I’ll have a proper desk of my own!!)
7. Dinner lol
Our doorbell rang quite abit today and even Alyssa asked, “Mama, why today so many people ring our doorbell?” Haha...
1. Airplants came (disappointing but I’ll leave the story for another day)
2. Salmon from Apollo Marine
3. One of K’s packages
4. Potting soil and organic insecticide from Greenspade
5. Surprise Aroma truffle chips from Ally!
6. My desk (Yes finally!! I’ll have a proper desk of my own!!)
7. Dinner lol
Our doorbell rang quite abit today and even Alyssa asked, “Mama, why today so many people ring our doorbell?” Haha...
Thursday, May 21, 2020
CB - the good
Trying to keep my spirits up and be thankful...So listing down the good stuff that the Circuit Breaker has brought about to me & the family...
- The girls have both been getting more physical time out of the house compared to before the CB. (Yes, what an irony) They've been going down at 4 or 5-plus in the afternoon each day to run around or to ride their bikes or skate scooters.
- The girls have both learnt how to ride on a bicycle! And within a month too..they are now stable enough to even go on the park connector and ride around 1-2km.
- The girls have not been slacking in terms of their work and studies. Although sometimes it is quite pek chek getting them to do their work.
- The girls have been reading books (or at least flipping through books) each day now.
- Nadya can bathe herself fully (except that she sometimes doesn't shampoo her hair thoroughly enough) and she can help to bathe or supervise Alyssa during bathtime too!
- We've been having more home-cooked food! And at the same time, we've also been trying out different types of outside food too, because for 2 days a week, we order in, instead of cooking. Just to add some variety to our lives. :)
- We, or at least K, has been trying out some baking recipes.
- I've been getting more time in the open as well, compared to when I had to go to the office. Talking walks each day or every other day. Short slow walks but better than nothing....
- I've always wanted to have a WFH arrangement so this in a way..is like a mini wish come true for me.
- Took the opportunity during this WFH time to completely wean myself off Omeprazole. It's been 2 months since I stopped. Yay..!
- I've also been able to spend more time to tend to my plants (and fight the bugs that recently came to disturb some plants).
Breathe
I usually fall asleep pretty quick. Unless the girls disturb me.
But this week, since Monday I think, my mind keeps running for more than 30mins...sometimes maybe 45mins before I manage to fall asleep.
Doesn't help that K wakes up at 6-ish each day and then I get woken up as well.
Feeling quite drained this week. Tummy acting up on several days, bottom left gum acting up as well.
Trying to do work but either the girls or ops issues keep cropping up and interrupting me.
Jiayou...
Head high...trudge on.
But this week, since Monday I think, my mind keeps running for more than 30mins...sometimes maybe 45mins before I manage to fall asleep.
Doesn't help that K wakes up at 6-ish each day and then I get woken up as well.
Feeling quite drained this week. Tummy acting up on several days, bottom left gum acting up as well.
Trying to do work but either the girls or ops issues keep cropping up and interrupting me.
Jiayou...
Head high...trudge on.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Tenant has reappeared!
We made a mistake! The tenant is still around!
Mr Caterpillar must have been super duper camouflaged when we tried looking for him the previous afternoon.
Alyssa found him again yesterday afternoon haha. Hanging from a branch that he's often on. WE're glad the rains 2 night ago didn't sweep him off his perch on the plant.
When we checked yesterday evening, he was still around, but on a different branch, basking in the evening sun amongst a bunch of leaves.
He doesn't look any bigger than before though. Thought they were supposed to gorge themselves then hibernate in their cocoon while they metamorphosise?
p/s: we really don't know if Mr Caterpillar is a guy or girl...I gave it a gender and called him Mister. :) The girls wanted to name him but....couldn't agree on one...yet.
Mr Caterpillar must have been super duper camouflaged when we tried looking for him the previous afternoon.
Alyssa found him again yesterday afternoon haha. Hanging from a branch that he's often on. WE're glad the rains 2 night ago didn't sweep him off his perch on the plant.
When we checked yesterday evening, he was still around, but on a different branch, basking in the evening sun amongst a bunch of leaves.
He doesn't look any bigger than before though. Thought they were supposed to gorge themselves then hibernate in their cocoon while they metamorphosise?
p/s: we really don't know if Mr Caterpillar is a guy or girl...I gave it a gender and called him Mister. :) The girls wanted to name him but....couldn't agree on one...yet.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Tenant
We had a new tenant.
3 days ago I discovered a brown caterpillar on my pomegranate plant. It was about an inch long and maybe less than a cm wide. Almost missed it if not for the fact that it was clinging on to a branch in a curved position.
I didn’t know whether it was alive or if it was just some weird branch at first. It was only a day later that I confirmed it was a live insect when it changed positions and went to a different branch. I’d never actually seen it move though. Would have been interesting to catch it in action.
Nadya, being the scaredy cat, refused to take a look at it. Alyssa, the younger but more garang one, was very curious and went up close to get a good view of it. She was also actively monitoring it and announced to me this morning that “the caterpillar is till there!”
Alas, when I went to check on it this afternoon, it was no longer there. Helper couldn’t find it either. Alyssa couldn’t too.
Tenant no more.
We were still hoping it would form a cocoon and eventually turn into a butterfly.
Oh well...it was still a nice experience for us. :)
3 days ago I discovered a brown caterpillar on my pomegranate plant. It was about an inch long and maybe less than a cm wide. Almost missed it if not for the fact that it was clinging on to a branch in a curved position.
I didn’t know whether it was alive or if it was just some weird branch at first. It was only a day later that I confirmed it was a live insect when it changed positions and went to a different branch. I’d never actually seen it move though. Would have been interesting to catch it in action.
Nadya, being the scaredy cat, refused to take a look at it. Alyssa, the younger but more garang one, was very curious and went up close to get a good view of it. She was also actively monitoring it and announced to me this morning that “the caterpillar is till there!”
Alas, when I went to check on it this afternoon, it was no longer there. Helper couldn’t find it either. Alyssa couldn’t too.
Tenant no more.
We were still hoping it would form a cocoon and eventually turn into a butterfly.
Oh well...it was still a nice experience for us. :)
Buy!
Laoniang...went on a “spree” today...
And bought gardening stuff online from various retailers...
Coupled with the airplants I bought 2 weeks ago (which have not arrived)....and the aluminum wire to make airplant holders (which have already arrived)
That makes it maybe $70-$80 worth of stuff?
Ok lah. Could have been more...;p
The spoils today?
- Mini tool set including cutters, widger, rake, pincers, shovel, etc
- 3 packs of potting soil (trying out the brand Greenspade, hope it’s better than OGL)
- Butterfly pea seeds (if these don’t germinate at all, then I’ll just be very busy paiseh and snip off those found along the Lorong outside my place...even though I think they belong to someone..)
- Gardening mat (been wanting one!)
And bought gardening stuff online from various retailers...
Coupled with the airplants I bought 2 weeks ago (which have not arrived)....and the aluminum wire to make airplant holders (which have already arrived)
That makes it maybe $70-$80 worth of stuff?
Ok lah. Could have been more...;p
The spoils today?
- Mini tool set including cutters, widger, rake, pincers, shovel, etc
- 3 packs of potting soil (trying out the brand Greenspade, hope it’s better than OGL)
- Butterfly pea seeds (if these don’t germinate at all, then I’ll just be very busy paiseh and snip off those found along the Lorong outside my place...even though I think they belong to someone..)
- Gardening mat (been wanting one!)
Friday, May 15, 2020
La Mouton Douce
This blog is 15yrs old.
Gosh, it's like my eldest child. My eldest daughter. Who has been with me through thick and thin and witnessed the various trials and tribulations and happy moments in my life. Mouton has been with me even before K appeared in my life.
Suddenly realised that in the midst of all comings and goings, this little mouton has been a constant through it all....unwavering.
Thank you for being there all this while.
Thank you for listening without judging.
Thank you for being that constant and not asking anything of me.
And thank you for holding all of my moments and memories in one big weave, even if I have forgotten many of the threads within.
Gosh, it's like my eldest child. My eldest daughter. Who has been with me through thick and thin and witnessed the various trials and tribulations and happy moments in my life. Mouton has been with me even before K appeared in my life.
Suddenly realised that in the midst of all comings and goings, this little mouton has been a constant through it all....unwavering.
Thank you for being there all this while.
Thank you for listening without judging.
Thank you for being that constant and not asking anything of me.
And thank you for holding all of my moments and memories in one big weave, even if I have forgotten many of the threads within.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Conversation with a 4.5yr old
Today, while I was hugging her and tucking her in for her afternoon nap.
A: Mama, always when I sit alone then I feel like crying. The water droplets are heavy and feel like they are going to fall.
Me: Huh why? You mean you feel this way at home or in school last time?
A: At home and in school. Because nobody has time for me. Nobody wants to be with me. Nobody play with me. Then I feel sad and I want to cry.
My sweet, sensitive and emphathetic baby...
K & I are working from home. Nadya has her Zoom sessions with her student care service centre. Helper is sometimes handling must-do chores and cooking meals. So Peanut's left alone to loiter around the house...
Sigh...Mum guilt.
A: Mama, always when I sit alone then I feel like crying. The water droplets are heavy and feel like they are going to fall.
Me: Huh why? You mean you feel this way at home or in school last time?
A: At home and in school. Because nobody has time for me. Nobody wants to be with me. Nobody play with me. Then I feel sad and I want to cry.
My sweet, sensitive and emphathetic baby...
K & I are working from home. Nadya has her Zoom sessions with her student care service centre. Helper is sometimes handling must-do chores and cooking meals. So Peanut's left alone to loiter around the house...
Sigh...Mum guilt.
Of flowers and ....parenting
The previous night, I drew flowers for Alyssa and she coloured them.
Last night, Alyssa requested me to draw a garden of flowers for her again.
And emphasised that she wanted them completely plain so she could fill them in with colours and decorations. She then ran off while I was drawing and never did come back to colour them.
Except to glance at the drawing and say "Good job Mama! So pretty!"
zzzzz I ended up colouring them myself....
Wishlist
I think I had a wishlist of things that I wanted to do...or something like that..written last year...
This time round, it's a wishlist of furniture, equipment and tools that I wanna get, assuming that $$ and cost and storage space are of no issue hahaha....
This time round, it's a wishlist of furniture, equipment and tools that I wanna get, assuming that $$ and cost and storage space are of no issue hahaha....
- Dyson vacumn cleaner - yeah, the pretty handheld ones used in K-dramas cos I am superficial like that LOL
- Dyson fan - same reason...chio
- Standing garment steamer
- Hair styling set - I'm a low maintenance lady actually, I don't do such things on a daily basis so this is just for those rare occasions when I have a special event to attend
- IPL tool/machine - no explanation needed....
- Proper oven - for baking, roasting, cooking, etc (not sure though about the pros and cons between a conventional oven and a convection oven
- A nice and proper full set of dinnerware - with main & side plates, pretty cutlery and matching table runners and table mats
- Breadmaker
- Kitchenaid - for all that mixing and kneading and dough-making and pastry-making
- Steamboat pot & portable stove for it & accompanying steamboat ladles
- Smokeless grill
- Bruno! Or Ninja Foodi multi-cooker?
- Treadmill - for well....erm...exercise?
- Stationary bike - for.....hmm...
- A garden trellis and other similar stuff (mini gazebo?) - so that I can hang airplants and grow ferns and vines and creepers like money plant, tomatoes, butterfly pea and grapes!!
- A walk-in storage garden shed, or a large shelf to store all such tools - with enough shelving to segregate between wet/damp and dry materials, and to segregate between the regular gardening stuff and terrarium stuff.
- A small garden - ok, I know this is not considered a tool, equipment or furniture lol...
- A bunk bed for the girls
- A bigger wardrobe and storage where all my clothes and bags can be kept in the same place
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Plants
Moss rose
Happy to see new shoots growing each day. There are 2-3 strong shoots that have grown in height and length. Even happier to see new flower buds forming! Yes!! Mossie and I are defeating the mealybugs! But we won't rest till the flowers bloom again...:) Looking forward to that day!
The small offshoot in the pink pot is still not showing any signs of flowering though. Wonder why....
Japanese Bamboo (Dracaena Surculosa)
This little fella was doing so well over the last 8 to 10 months after I repotted it. Many new shoots sprouted and new leaves formed. But in the last 1-2 weeks, a few stalks of leaves suddenly started turning yellow. Those leaves then dried up and dropped off too...:(
There was a leaf that had a big white spot in the middle. Not sure what that means yet. Will try to find some time to google. I like this fella alot and hope it gets well and strong again.
Food plans...
I tried something different for our meal yesterday. Thought to switch things up a little and have aglio olio as out main instead.
Laoniang didn't plan properly. Sigh.
We ran out of mushrooms so we only had mushrooms for lunch but none for dinner. I initially wanted to have scrambled eggs as sides but we only had 2 eggs left so we couldn't use eggs at all. We just ended up frying sausages and hashbrowns to go with the pasta. And some cabbage soup.
Dinner was worse because we ran out of hashbrowns and sausages so I told the helper to just use up all the frozen fish fingers, fry some luncheon meat with tau kwa and throw whatever remaining frozen meatballs we had into the remaining soup.
So last night was a meal high in processed food.
It's been awhile since I had a meal like that. While the meal was ok and sufficiently tasty (cos salty mah haha)...I felt a little "jer lak" after that. My stomach was a little bloated but manageable.
But I woke this morning with a puffier than usual face (cos salt does that to you) and a bad stomach...Could feel the acid swirling around in side...gosh...I hope I poo soon so I get rid of whatever's in me....and I'd better drink more water to flush things out....
==========
Today's Wednesday. Our order-in day.
Mac for lunch and The Garden Slug for dinner.
TGS is our evergreen go-to place when we can't think of anything else. Consistent and though slightly oily, their food somehow is still easier on the stomach and doesn't cause any bloating or indigestion for us! No "jer lak" feeling too...We've been having TGS every week since CB began haha...And prior to that we visit their outlet at least 1-2 times a month and sometimes more....:)
Laoniang didn't plan properly. Sigh.
We ran out of mushrooms so we only had mushrooms for lunch but none for dinner. I initially wanted to have scrambled eggs as sides but we only had 2 eggs left so we couldn't use eggs at all. We just ended up frying sausages and hashbrowns to go with the pasta. And some cabbage soup.
Dinner was worse because we ran out of hashbrowns and sausages so I told the helper to just use up all the frozen fish fingers, fry some luncheon meat with tau kwa and throw whatever remaining frozen meatballs we had into the remaining soup.
So last night was a meal high in processed food.
It's been awhile since I had a meal like that. While the meal was ok and sufficiently tasty (cos salty mah haha)...I felt a little "jer lak" after that. My stomach was a little bloated but manageable.
But I woke this morning with a puffier than usual face (cos salt does that to you) and a bad stomach...Could feel the acid swirling around in side...gosh...I hope I poo soon so I get rid of whatever's in me....and I'd better drink more water to flush things out....
==========
Today's Wednesday. Our order-in day.
Mac for lunch and The Garden Slug for dinner.
TGS is our evergreen go-to place when we can't think of anything else. Consistent and though slightly oily, their food somehow is still easier on the stomach and doesn't cause any bloating or indigestion for us! No "jer lak" feeling too...We've been having TGS every week since CB began haha...And prior to that we visit their outlet at least 1-2 times a month and sometimes more....:)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Reminders to Self
- Don't let someone else affect your level of happiness. You're in control of your own state of mind and being.
- 做好自己的本分，别管他人。Unless they step on your tail or in your turf of course.
- Pick your battles. Might feel good to "win" trivial stuff. But that's just petty stuff. 要赢就来个大胜. Sometimes, it's ok to back away while still keeping your head high.
- Ask and clarify if needed. Even if it means digging further and irritating others. For knowing more is also key to understanding more.
- Don't let your ego get inflated. Don't get arrogant. Don't get 头大.
- Don't be afraid too of stating your stand.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Wrightia Religiosa aka Water Plum aka Water Jasmine aka Shui Mei aka 水梅
This fella chose a special day to gift something to me.
It came to me more than 6 months ago, in early October 2019. I don't think FIL meant it as a birthday present when he gave that pot to me but I treated it as one haha. Seed pods appeared a few weeks later and I was elated!
They grew over 2-3 months and looked like wishbones. I spent the time waiting and anticipating. I tried reading up online on how long it would take for the seed pods to mature and burst open. But I never really found an answer.
And so I kept on waiting.
A month ago, one pod started changing colour ever so slightly. It turned a little brown. I was worried it was drying up or was affected by the bout of mealybug infection a few weeks ago. I wrapped a ziploc bag around the seed pods just to be safe. I didn't know what the hell I was doing actually haha.
Then a week ago, the heavy rains actually caused the bag to fall off. The seed pods remained intact on the plant. I put the bag back on.
And then a few days ago, the seed pad that was slightly brown split open very slightly. I was a noob water plum owner and didn't know if that meant the seed pod was about to burst open soon and spread its seeds all around...or was that just the seed pod dying from dehydration.
I kept the bag on.
And then...miracuously...on Sunday 10 May akak Mother's Day...I woke in the morning and for some reason, I stepped out onto the balcony after washing up. And I saw that...
Both seed pods had burst open!
Probably the night before or at dawn. Seeds with fluffy white hairs were collected in the ziploc bag! Yay! My plan had worked!
I'll keep some for myself and pass some to my FIL. He's good at germinating seeds...:)
It came to me more than 6 months ago, in early October 2019. I don't think FIL meant it as a birthday present when he gave that pot to me but I treated it as one haha. Seed pods appeared a few weeks later and I was elated!
They grew over 2-3 months and looked like wishbones. I spent the time waiting and anticipating. I tried reading up online on how long it would take for the seed pods to mature and burst open. But I never really found an answer.
And so I kept on waiting.
A month ago, one pod started changing colour ever so slightly. It turned a little brown. I was worried it was drying up or was affected by the bout of mealybug infection a few weeks ago. I wrapped a ziploc bag around the seed pods just to be safe. I didn't know what the hell I was doing actually haha.
Then a week ago, the heavy rains actually caused the bag to fall off. The seed pods remained intact on the plant. I put the bag back on.
And then a few days ago, the seed pad that was slightly brown split open very slightly. I was a noob water plum owner and didn't know if that meant the seed pod was about to burst open soon and spread its seeds all around...or was that just the seed pod dying from dehydration.
I kept the bag on.
And then...miracuously...on Sunday 10 May akak Mother's Day...I woke in the morning and for some reason, I stepped out onto the balcony after washing up. And I saw that...
Both seed pods had burst open!
Probably the night before or at dawn. Seeds with fluffy white hairs were collected in the ziploc bag! Yay! My plan had worked!
I'll keep some for myself and pass some to my FIL. He's good at germinating seeds...:)
The Tillandsias - airplants
Tillandsia Caput Medusae
This little fella's faring very well and showing obvious signs of growth. Seems like taking this one out to the balcony did it a lot of good. It's greener and more vibrant and it's strands are curling much around much more now. Yay! Hope it grows more and branches out more! Till it really looks like Medusa's head!
Tillandsia Ionantha
I only know it's an ionantha but not sure of the sub-species... This one looks totally like a pineapple's top. It seems to be doing ok and growing...I think. Growing very very slowly. Still about the same size. And one leaf seems to have gotten a little rotten...:( but the rest are still fine.
Tillandisa Brachycaulos
This one had the most potential last time and I was elated when it started growing roots last year...but then it grew stagnant and some tips were browning. After shifting this one to the balcony, I still can't tell if it's doing better or not...still seems to be stagnant. See how this one goes.....
This little fella's faring very well and showing obvious signs of growth. Seems like taking this one out to the balcony did it a lot of good. It's greener and more vibrant and it's strands are curling much around much more now. Yay! Hope it grows more and branches out more! Till it really looks like Medusa's head!
Tillandsia Ionantha
I only know it's an ionantha but not sure of the sub-species... This one looks totally like a pineapple's top. It seems to be doing ok and growing...I think. Growing very very slowly. Still about the same size. And one leaf seems to have gotten a little rotten...:( but the rest are still fine.
Tillandisa Brachycaulos
This one had the most potential last time and I was elated when it started growing roots last year...but then it grew stagnant and some tips were browning. After shifting this one to the balcony, I still can't tell if it's doing better or not...still seems to be stagnant. See how this one goes.....
The Coll
Questioned her staff about an inconsistency in their department's processes.
Why the double-standard on the stringent checks done on others and such lax processes within their own team?
The staff kept silent. For 2 weeks.
Laoniang keeps track one ok. You can say I 咬死不放, even if it's a trivial and small thing.
It's the principle behind it and the mentality behind it that 我看不爽.
Sent a chaser today asking for a response to my query.
One staff replied, with rubbish irrelevant info.
The Coll responded and told me to ignore that staff's info and she herself gave me other irrelevant info.
咬死不放.
I questioned her again.
And she went silent on me.
Everytime like that. When she knows she is fighting a losing battle, she ignores and stays silent.
Nabeh. %&$^#%
Why the double-standard on the stringent checks done on others and such lax processes within their own team?
The staff kept silent. For 2 weeks.
Laoniang keeps track one ok. You can say I 咬死不放, even if it's a trivial and small thing.
It's the principle behind it and the mentality behind it that 我看不爽.
Sent a chaser today asking for a response to my query.
One staff replied, with rubbish irrelevant info.
The Coll responded and told me to ignore that staff's info and she herself gave me other irrelevant info.
咬死不放.
I questioned her again.
And she went silent on me.
Everytime like that. When she knows she is fighting a losing battle, she ignores and stays silent.
Nabeh. %&$^#%
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Of bakes and...om nom nom
We've been baking banana bread 4 days in a row....
Day 1 - test bake, which turned out a little burnt on the bottom but was still relatively nice...
Day 2 - baked for the Chias, they were the ones who gave us the bunch of bananas...
Day 3 - baked for K's family, for Mother's Day...delivered over to Kembangan...
Day 4 - i.e. today...baked for my family, for Mother's Day and delivered over to Pasir Ris...
We still have a bunch of bananas left...Pisang Merah...
Not sure how we'll settle those...we'll prolly bake another banana cake again...lol...
==========
I still have 4 sheets of frozen puff pastry left.
Hope to do a proper sausage roll tomorrow if I have the time. I hope they do puff up properly!!
==========
We still have plain flour and potato flour and bread flour and yeast and baking powder and baking soda and blocks of butter and icing sugar and salted caramel chips and chocolate chips...and.....
I wanna make more of the salted caramel tarts I did 2-3 weeks ago and I wanna try making soft buns and pizza too...but...有心无力 lol...
Day 1 - test bake, which turned out a little burnt on the bottom but was still relatively nice...
Day 2 - baked for the Chias, they were the ones who gave us the bunch of bananas...
Day 3 - baked for K's family, for Mother's Day...delivered over to Kembangan...
Day 4 - i.e. today...baked for my family, for Mother's Day and delivered over to Pasir Ris...
We still have a bunch of bananas left...Pisang Merah...
Not sure how we'll settle those...we'll prolly bake another banana cake again...lol...
==========
I still have 4 sheets of frozen puff pastry left.
Hope to do a proper sausage roll tomorrow if I have the time. I hope they do puff up properly!!
==========
We still have plain flour and potato flour and bread flour and yeast and baking powder and baking soda and blocks of butter and icing sugar and salted caramel chips and chocolate chips...and.....
I wanna make more of the salted caramel tarts I did 2-3 weeks ago and I wanna try making soft buns and pizza too...but...有心无力 lol...
Friday, May 08, 2020
Limbo. To-Do. Striking off.
Many work things are in limbo at the moment.
Things I want to get a hold on and finish up but can't seem to.
Projects big or small that I want to wrap up and move on from, but can't seem to.
And it's due to others e.g. the other party going MIA on me, or my boss not responding not me.
Or things are too complicated everyone is losing steam, or things that need to be done but have low priority but still need to be done and are eclipsed by other higher priority matters.
And so these work items end up still camping on my to-do list. More and more such stuff.
It's annoying when I cannot strike them off and move on fully to other things.
Because I cannot continue with these items, I have to start on other items.
And then I end up having many half-cooked items on the list.
There are things that have been squatting in my to-do list for 1.5yrs.
My list is turning into a slum.
And I'm hesitant and procrastinating on starting other items for FY20.
Because I don't the list to grow too large that I end up losing sight of stuff.
Rants. Rants.
Drats.
Things I want to get a hold on and finish up but can't seem to.
Projects big or small that I want to wrap up and move on from, but can't seem to.
And it's due to others e.g. the other party going MIA on me, or my boss not responding not me.
Or things are too complicated everyone is losing steam, or things that need to be done but have low priority but still need to be done and are eclipsed by other higher priority matters.
And so these work items end up still camping on my to-do list. More and more such stuff.
It's annoying when I cannot strike them off and move on fully to other things.
Because I cannot continue with these items, I have to start on other items.
And then I end up having many half-cooked items on the list.
There are things that have been squatting in my to-do list for 1.5yrs.
My list is turning into a slum.
And I'm hesitant and procrastinating on starting other items for FY20.
Because I don't the list to grow too large that I end up losing sight of stuff.
Rants. Rants.
Drats.
Wednesday, May 06, 2020
Resonation
"Anxiety and loneliness seem to be with me for life. I put alot of meaning on how I would work it out, but it seems like I have to study it for my entire life."
- Suga, BTS
6 May 20
Day 30 of the Circuit Breaker.
Wow, time passed so fast. Sunrise. Sunset. Ping! Another new day.
Mixed feelings.
Love that I'm getting more time with the kids and getting them to learn, and understanding where they are at in terms of their academic capabilities. On the other hand, they drive me nuts sometimes with their bickering and them not giving me space (to do my own stuff or sit with my own thoughts) even when I ask for some.
I love it that I'm working from home. No need to wake early to get prepped. No mad rush in the mornings to get the kids and myself ready. No time "wasted" on commute. More time for sleep...:) More flexibility. And of course, working from home means having more home-cooked food, which is good for my stomach...I don't like the juggling though haha. Sometimes there's too much of it. The constant need to switch the mind between work and home duties and teacher duties and child minding duties and other duties like responding to friends or colleagues who have reached out and checking in parents and in-laws...The lines blur too much and each aspect of life osmosizes together and then it becomes one big messy pool. I'd also bring the girls down for their daily outdoor time at 4-plus and then when I come home, I'd be clearing some more work, if needed, at 5-plus and 6-plus and/or 7-plus. Sometimes if there's no time....work will still be done at 9-plus.
Love it that I'm eating at home. Somehow feel more comfortable doing so. And getting to try outside food for 2 days a week when we order in for some variety. At times though haha...we aren't sure or run out of ideas on what to order. And then some monotony sets in.
Will CB be extended again? I don't know really...I forsaw the first extension. I'm leaning toward another extension at the moment. Let's see what the G says in time to come. Community cases are still not low enough...
Wow, time passed so fast. Sunrise. Sunset. Ping! Another new day.
Mixed feelings.
Love that I'm getting more time with the kids and getting them to learn, and understanding where they are at in terms of their academic capabilities. On the other hand, they drive me nuts sometimes with their bickering and them not giving me space (to do my own stuff or sit with my own thoughts) even when I ask for some.
I love it that I'm working from home. No need to wake early to get prepped. No mad rush in the mornings to get the kids and myself ready. No time "wasted" on commute. More time for sleep...:) More flexibility. And of course, working from home means having more home-cooked food, which is good for my stomach...I don't like the juggling though haha. Sometimes there's too much of it. The constant need to switch the mind between work and home duties and teacher duties and child minding duties and other duties like responding to friends or colleagues who have reached out and checking in parents and in-laws...The lines blur too much and each aspect of life osmosizes together and then it becomes one big messy pool. I'd also bring the girls down for their daily outdoor time at 4-plus and then when I come home, I'd be clearing some more work, if needed, at 5-plus and 6-plus and/or 7-plus. Sometimes if there's no time....work will still be done at 9-plus.
Love it that I'm eating at home. Somehow feel more comfortable doing so. And getting to try outside food for 2 days a week when we order in for some variety. At times though haha...we aren't sure or run out of ideas on what to order. And then some monotony sets in.
Will CB be extended again? I don't know really...I forsaw the first extension. I'm leaning toward another extension at the moment. Let's see what the G says in time to come. Community cases are still not low enough...
Tuesday, May 05, 2020
Conversations with a 4.5yr old
This morning.
A: Mama! Here you go. For you!
Me: *reaches out my hand*
A: *drops a little piece of something onto my palm"
Me: What's this???!!!
A: My eyewax! Just for you! *big grin*
sigh.....lol.
==========
This is a little exchange we have sometimes.
Me: I love you alot alot alot alot alot alot alot!! You love me too?
A: Ya! I love you this big!! *stretches out her arms the widest possible*
Still gets me feeling warm and fuzzy each time, no matter how many times she does it.
A: Mama! Here you go. For you!
Me: *reaches out my hand*
A: *drops a little piece of something onto my palm"
Me: What's this???!!!
A: My eyewax! Just for you! *big grin*
sigh.....lol.
==========
This is a little exchange we have sometimes.
Me: I love you alot alot alot alot alot alot alot!! You love me too?
A: Ya! I love you this big!! *stretches out her arms the widest possible*
Still gets me feeling warm and fuzzy each time, no matter how many times she does it.
Monday, May 04, 2020
Crumbs
Monday morning. The daily grind starts again!
WFH + HBL
A little rusty after the long weekend but still good...Nadya was a little whiny but got into it pretty soon too...
Then again...weekdays and weekends are all pretty blurred to me right now also....
==========
Water plum had a bumper bloom session over the last 3 days...the flowers are very fragrant but quite fragile as well. Heavy rain and strong winds these few days made at least 15-20 flowers and sometimes 30-over flowers drop each day...so sad...
Most flower buds are not forming or growing that fast anymore so I'll only get a few blooms each day over the next week or so....
==========
Moss rose is doing much better compared to a month ago. Many new shoots are forming after the tremendous trimming it underwent a few weeks ago to get rid of bugs.
This morning, I caught a big mealybug feasting on one new shoot with a new flower bud so I squashed it and squashed it and squashed it. Reminder to self to spray the moss rose with neem oil again.....
==========
Kids at home =
Crumbs on the floor =
Ants are happy =
Lizards are happy =
Mama not happy
WFH + HBL
A little rusty after the long weekend but still good...Nadya was a little whiny but got into it pretty soon too...
Then again...weekdays and weekends are all pretty blurred to me right now also....
==========
Water plum had a bumper bloom session over the last 3 days...the flowers are very fragrant but quite fragile as well. Heavy rain and strong winds these few days made at least 15-20 flowers and sometimes 30-over flowers drop each day...so sad...
Most flower buds are not forming or growing that fast anymore so I'll only get a few blooms each day over the next week or so....
==========
Moss rose is doing much better compared to a month ago. Many new shoots are forming after the tremendous trimming it underwent a few weeks ago to get rid of bugs.
This morning, I caught a big mealybug feasting on one new shoot with a new flower bud so I squashed it and squashed it and squashed it. Reminder to self to spray the moss rose with neem oil again.....
==========
Kids at home =
Crumbs on the floor =
Ants are happy =
Lizards are happy =
Mama not happy
Thursday, April 30, 2020
of stomach and gum woes...
It is amazing how reflux or an imbalance in the gut brings me various types of discomfort...
- stomach cramps at times
- breathlessness at times
- a general lethargy which can be mild or strong
- upper stomach discomfort
- bloatedness
- diarrhoea at times
- chest discomfort
- throat/neck aches if the reflux gets quite bad
- bitter taste in mouth, sometimes just on its own, sometimes when I burp
- irritability, when too many symptoms occur at the same time, or when a single symptom shows up strongly, or...just because
At times, it can be just 1 or 2 symptoms, at other times, it's a combination of different symptoms.
I weaned myself off omeprazole over several months and I've been completely off it (finally) for the past 1 month and 1 week. I was happy that I had no major discomfort, perhaps helped by the fact that I am WFH now and having light home-cooked meals with soup almost everyday.
Maybe the strong doses of antibiotics (for my gum infection) are putting pressure on my stomach. I couldn't sleep well last night due to stomach cramps. Certain sleeping positions made me feel worse.
Woke this morning and resolved to manage the stomach well today. So far it's manageable and doesn't make me feel too horrid.
Fingers crossed that all will be well.
That my stomach will hold up and that my gum will heal soon so I don't have too feel too worried about it and I don't have to contend with chewing only on the right side of my teeth...
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
bits and pieces
I miss Mama, aka my granny. That's what we call her. More specifically, Ma3Ma2.
But then again, in these unique times, I'm glad she's not around and at risk of catching the virus.
I still remember in the week after she passed on, I kept seeing a small brown moth hovering around my room and Nadya's room, especially at night. Nadya was only 6 months old at the time. I've never seen a moth hang around for so long in the years since.
==========
A little woozy from the antibiotics. 2 different types taken at the same time so maybe it might be strong....
On the brighter side of things, maybe it'll get rid of some of the bacteria that was making my throat a little scratchy...:)
==========
Suddenly realised that 不知不觉 I've stopped spending time each day to list down things that I feel grateful and thankful for that day. And it's been for several months...oops. ;p
Made a conscious effort to do so last night before I slept..Initial goal was to list down 3 things but 不知不觉 again....it became a list of 6-7 items haha, some of which included...
1. Nadya didn't cry yesterday morning when doing her work
2. A dentist was willing to see me! Even though he wasn't allowed to provide any cleaning or scaling services.
3. I took an hour off work in the afternoon and witnessed Nadya riding a bike! She rode the pedal bike for the first time ever on Monday afternoon but I had not been around to see it...So yesterday when I was present, and K was assisting her, I managed to take videos of it! Yay, so proud of her...she'd only been using the balance bike for less than a month and suddenly she could ride the pedal bike already!
4. I have a good working relationship with ST. (spent almost whole day with her yesterday to discuss how to handle one messy customer-reseller-reseller-registrar-registry issue)
==========
Trying to see how I can make some hanging holders for the airplants....
But then again, in these unique times, I'm glad she's not around and at risk of catching the virus.
I still remember in the week after she passed on, I kept seeing a small brown moth hovering around my room and Nadya's room, especially at night. Nadya was only 6 months old at the time. I've never seen a moth hang around for so long in the years since.
==========
A little woozy from the antibiotics. 2 different types taken at the same time so maybe it might be strong....
On the brighter side of things, maybe it'll get rid of some of the bacteria that was making my throat a little scratchy...:)
==========
Suddenly realised that 不知不觉 I've stopped spending time each day to list down things that I feel grateful and thankful for that day. And it's been for several months...oops. ;p
Made a conscious effort to do so last night before I slept..Initial goal was to list down 3 things but 不知不觉 again....it became a list of 6-7 items haha, some of which included...
1. Nadya didn't cry yesterday morning when doing her work
2. A dentist was willing to see me! Even though he wasn't allowed to provide any cleaning or scaling services.
3. I took an hour off work in the afternoon and witnessed Nadya riding a bike! She rode the pedal bike for the first time ever on Monday afternoon but I had not been around to see it...So yesterday when I was present, and K was assisting her, I managed to take videos of it! Yay, so proud of her...she'd only been using the balance bike for less than a month and suddenly she could ride the pedal bike already!
4. I have a good working relationship with ST. (spent almost whole day with her yesterday to discuss how to handle one messy customer-reseller-reseller-registrar-registry issue)
==========
Trying to see how I can make some hanging holders for the airplants....
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Owwww...
Not a good time to get a gum infection.
Made 2-3 calls to a hapless, clueless, not very helpful and inexperienced receptionist at the usual dentist I go to for "emergencies". I was still rejected by her in the end and not allowed to go and see my dentist. Because apparently I can still chew on the other side of my mouth, and I can still sleep at night.
I asked her: "This is your criteria for determining whether or not I am allowed to go in to see your dentist? What if it's a gum infection and travels to my bloodstream and infects the rest of me?"
Her response: "Would you like to call another branch? The staff there are more experienced. But no, don't think it will infect your blood. Actually, I don't know. but I don't think so. Would you like to make an appointment for after CB ends?"
@#%#$&^%
Finally found another dentist willing to see me at Bedok Mall.
So yeah, I've an infection caused by leftover food particles which were not cleaned off properly. It's at the upper left corner, where the last molar and the wisdom tooth is at. Hard to reach, even with floss and interdentals....
The area around it is reddish which according to the dentist who saw me....was due to the fact that bacteria from the fermenting food had gotten into the bloodstream and infected the surrounding tissue...so not only the gum area was infected, part of the root of my mouth and another area near the back of my throat was also infected...
Given mouthwash and 2 different types of antibiotics. 2 different types because 1 was needed to protect my heart just in case it brings issue to my existing (minor) heart problem. To complete in 5 days. 2 types of antibiotics X 2 tablets each time for each type X 3 times a day = 12 tablets a day....zzz...
On the brighter side...while he was not allowed to do cleaning or scaling of my teeth due to the current covid CB restrictions...he managed to help me floss/dig out some meat fibres from that area....it was gross and embarrassing...but necessary....haha.
Hope the medication doesn't cause my stomach to go haywire...
Fighting!!
Made 2-3 calls to a hapless, clueless, not very helpful and inexperienced receptionist at the usual dentist I go to for "emergencies". I was still rejected by her in the end and not allowed to go and see my dentist. Because apparently I can still chew on the other side of my mouth, and I can still sleep at night.
I asked her: "This is your criteria for determining whether or not I am allowed to go in to see your dentist? What if it's a gum infection and travels to my bloodstream and infects the rest of me?"
Her response: "Would you like to call another branch? The staff there are more experienced. But no, don't think it will infect your blood. Actually, I don't know. but I don't think so. Would you like to make an appointment for after CB ends?"
@#%#$&^%
Finally found another dentist willing to see me at Bedok Mall.
So yeah, I've an infection caused by leftover food particles which were not cleaned off properly. It's at the upper left corner, where the last molar and the wisdom tooth is at. Hard to reach, even with floss and interdentals....
The area around it is reddish which according to the dentist who saw me....was due to the fact that bacteria from the fermenting food had gotten into the bloodstream and infected the surrounding tissue...so not only the gum area was infected, part of the root of my mouth and another area near the back of my throat was also infected...
Given mouthwash and 2 different types of antibiotics. 2 different types because 1 was needed to protect my heart just in case it brings issue to my existing (minor) heart problem. To complete in 5 days. 2 types of antibiotics X 2 tablets each time for each type X 3 times a day = 12 tablets a day....zzz...
On the brighter side...while he was not allowed to do cleaning or scaling of my teeth due to the current covid CB restrictions...he managed to help me floss/dig out some meat fibres from that area....it was gross and embarrassing...but necessary....haha.
Hope the medication doesn't cause my stomach to go haywire...
Fighting!!
Monday, April 27, 2020
Of.....meals.....
Had a video call with the inlaws last evening.
MIL threw up an unexpected comment....that got me a little riled up.
Maybe I'm sensitive and emotional these couple of days. Maybe that's why I am reacting more.
K and I were in front of the camera. The girls were in the background playing.
MIL mentioned to K something along this line "Now that you are not eating at my place but on your own, I think you're not eating food that's healthy (compared to what I prepare)".
Erm...hello?
Ever since we moved into our own place, Laoniang spends alot of time each week making meal plans and planning menus ok. I try to meet both K's needs as well as the girls'. And I try to ensure there's different types of proteins and carbs and veg ok. Granted that there may not be as much fish or fruits as I would like there to be. But still it's a pretty balanced diet, with no deep-fried or overly oily stuff.
For someone who takes pride in meal planning, the comment definitely got to me. Especially when now during CB days we're cooking on an almost daily basis.
There were other potential sub-texts as well, stemming from that single comment.
"You are not taking care of my son and my grand-daughters well enough."
"You are not doing a good job."
K said that all mothers think the same and that in their minds, DILs will never match up to their expectations.
Whatever lah. Sigh.
Update:
Someone (who is almost an MIL already) offered me a different perspective. That my MIL made that comment because as a Mother, she misses her kids and grandkids eating at her place and misses taking care of her brood. And that all Mothers feel they (and only they) take care of the family best....
Thank you for giving me a different perspective LH....
MIL threw up an unexpected comment....that got me a little riled up.
Maybe I'm sensitive and emotional these couple of days. Maybe that's why I am reacting more.
K and I were in front of the camera. The girls were in the background playing.
MIL mentioned to K something along this line "Now that you are not eating at my place but on your own, I think you're not eating food that's healthy (compared to what I prepare)".
Erm...hello?
Ever since we moved into our own place, Laoniang spends alot of time each week making meal plans and planning menus ok. I try to meet both K's needs as well as the girls'. And I try to ensure there's different types of proteins and carbs and veg ok. Granted that there may not be as much fish or fruits as I would like there to be. But still it's a pretty balanced diet, with no deep-fried or overly oily stuff.
For someone who takes pride in meal planning, the comment definitely got to me. Especially when now during CB days we're cooking on an almost daily basis.
There were other potential sub-texts as well, stemming from that single comment.
"You are not taking care of my son and my grand-daughters well enough."
"You are not doing a good job."
K said that all mothers think the same and that in their minds, DILs will never match up to their expectations.
Whatever lah. Sigh.
Update:
Someone (who is almost an MIL already) offered me a different perspective. That my MIL made that comment because as a Mother, she misses her kids and grandkids eating at her place and misses taking care of her brood. And that all Mothers feel they (and only they) take care of the family best....
Thank you for giving me a different perspective LH....
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Plants
Water Plum Bonsai
Many leaves started turning yellow a few days ago. It definitely alarmed me and I didn't know what to do. I spent some time this morning looking over it. Couldn't get a chance to do so over the last few days. Managed to get rid of one damn big mealy bug. But that was the only one I saw and I'm glad it is so. There may be some more lurking around that I could't quite see with my eyes but I'm glad the situation has improved.
I'm just wondering why leaves are turning yellow. And dropping. :(
I counted almost 40 bunches of flower buds. Some have bloomed and are getting older. Some are just starting out. Are these taking up too much nutrients and energy from the plant? And thus causing the leaves to turn yellow?
No idea...:( Need to monitor and see how it goes...fingers crossed.
Moss Rose
This fella's looking much better than before. New buds and new shoots are coming out.
There are still some greyish stalks here and there and I hope most of the mealybugs have gone off.
I'll need to give it a "spray-over" with the neem oil again this evening....
The Girls' Aloes
Ok these are not doing good. Could be the soil I'm using? Or the mix of soil that I did up? :(
Sad lah...Hope they hang in there longer...
Many leaves started turning yellow a few days ago. It definitely alarmed me and I didn't know what to do. I spent some time this morning looking over it. Couldn't get a chance to do so over the last few days. Managed to get rid of one damn big mealy bug. But that was the only one I saw and I'm glad it is so. There may be some more lurking around that I could't quite see with my eyes but I'm glad the situation has improved.
I'm just wondering why leaves are turning yellow. And dropping. :(
I counted almost 40 bunches of flower buds. Some have bloomed and are getting older. Some are just starting out. Are these taking up too much nutrients and energy from the plant? And thus causing the leaves to turn yellow?
No idea...:( Need to monitor and see how it goes...fingers crossed.
Moss Rose
This fella's looking much better than before. New buds and new shoots are coming out.
There are still some greyish stalks here and there and I hope most of the mealybugs have gone off.
I'll need to give it a "spray-over" with the neem oil again this evening....
The Girls' Aloes
Ok these are not doing good. Could be the soil I'm using? Or the mix of soil that I did up? :(
Sad lah...Hope they hang in there longer...
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Nadya + HBL
I start my work at 7:45am.
And then I get Nadya to start her work at 8:00am.
It's another "record" today.
I made her cry at 8:15am.
It's always when we're doing Math. Subtraction within 20 is still a challenge for her.
Ended up doing deep breathing with her to calm her down and settle her frustrations.
Held her hands and did breathing and counting together.
Guess I needed it myself.
Took the opportunity to inject some comic stuff while doing deep breathing.
Just to lighten the air.
And then we continued.
I hope I am guiding her properly.
Both in terms of managing her anxieties.
As well as in terms of her work.....
Getting to be of some concern that her Chinese doesn't seem up to par and her Math subtraction seems to be a major stumbling block for her.
And then I get Nadya to start her work at 8:00am.
It's another "record" today.
I made her cry at 8:15am.
It's always when we're doing Math. Subtraction within 20 is still a challenge for her.
Ended up doing deep breathing with her to calm her down and settle her frustrations.
Held her hands and did breathing and counting together.
Guess I needed it myself.
Took the opportunity to inject some comic stuff while doing deep breathing.
Just to lighten the air.
And then we continued.
I hope I am guiding her properly.
Both in terms of managing her anxieties.
As well as in terms of her work.....
Getting to be of some concern that her Chinese doesn't seem up to par and her Math subtraction seems to be a major stumbling block for her.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Guilt
- For making the older one cry when guiding her in school work
- For neglecting the younger one
- For leaving both to the helper when I need to settle work
- For not being able to teach the younger one more stuff...and letting her roam around aimlessly
- For feeling frazzled and sometimes wanting out
- For raising my voice on more than a few occasions
- For lacking the physical and mental strength to do more for them, the family and myself
Friday, April 17, 2020
Jiayou Mama!
Woke feeling a little fatigued and achey.
Maybe the warm weather and the daily multi-tasking is getting to me. Plus we can't get outdoor time in the condo carpark already. MCST issued a circular informing residents that we can't let our kids run or ride bikes or ride skate-scooters or play in the carpark anymore.....so I also don't get any 30min or 1hr each day to unwind anymore...
While I think we can bring the kids out to walk for a short 10-15mins at the lorong next to our condo, it also brings me some unease...and it makes me uncomfortable when some people stare at us.
Hope I can tahan the day ahead. And hope I can get a 30min nap somewhere somehow.
Maybe the warm weather and the daily multi-tasking is getting to me. Plus we can't get outdoor time in the condo carpark already. MCST issued a circular informing residents that we can't let our kids run or ride bikes or ride skate-scooters or play in the carpark anymore.....so I also don't get any 30min or 1hr each day to unwind anymore...
While I think we can bring the kids out to walk for a short 10-15mins at the lorong next to our condo, it also brings me some unease...and it makes me uncomfortable when some people stare at us.
Hope I can tahan the day ahead. And hope I can get a 30min nap somewhere somehow.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Laoniang's plants....
Managed to squeeze in 15mins of gardening time yesterday.
Water Plum Bonsai
Very happy to see that the water plum bonsai is doing much better. After 2-3 weeks' of TLC and one-on-one attention, at least 5 sessions of spraying the plant with neem oil, and at least 5 sessions of me scrutinising the plant like shit and personally going through each leaf and plucking out whatever mealybug I could find, I'm very happy to share that the plant has started growing new leaves and flower buds for the past week! In fact, there were 1-2 blooms some days ago already...:)
Still need to monitor though...some leaves are still a little on the yellowish side, which means it still isn't in the best of health yet and not fully out of the woods.
Moss Rose
Laoniang have it a very vigorous trim 1-2 weeks ago when I discovered that it was infected with the mealybugs as well. Chopped off all the dead or dying stalks. And sprayed the rest of the plant with neem oil...
And so I've been trimming affected parts and spraying the neem oil on and off. Happy to see that new shoots and leaves are sprouting. This one needs further work before it can be restored to its full glory again...right now, it has not flowered since Day 2 of CNY when it used to have at least 1 bloom each day. I hope to nurse it back to that state again!
Local Pomegranate
Despite looking half-dead, this plant never ceases to amaze me. It has 3 flower buds again...if no birds come to pick at them, I believe most of the buds will develop into fruits again...:)
Fox-tail Fern
Damn cute. It flowered...tiny little white flowers...so tiny...but they are drying up already....
Tillandsias
Right now, if I have the time, I'll try to read up more on tillandsia care...
I have 3 of such airplants which I brought back from the office....though I've not specifically identified one of them. One's a Tillandsia Ionantha, another's a Tillandsia Caput Medusae and the last one....no idea what it is haha....
Terrarium
Bruoght 2 back from the office. The almost 2 yr old terrarium....sigh...heart-breaking...the plants inside mostly died. All within a few days after bringing it back home. They must have been too used to the aircon in the office....plant shock given the warmth of the house...Now all that's left is the moss bed and a tiny scraggly green fittonia that seems like it's going going gone soon too.....see how....
Water Plum Bonsai
Very happy to see that the water plum bonsai is doing much better. After 2-3 weeks' of TLC and one-on-one attention, at least 5 sessions of spraying the plant with neem oil, and at least 5 sessions of me scrutinising the plant like shit and personally going through each leaf and plucking out whatever mealybug I could find, I'm very happy to share that the plant has started growing new leaves and flower buds for the past week! In fact, there were 1-2 blooms some days ago already...:)
Still need to monitor though...some leaves are still a little on the yellowish side, which means it still isn't in the best of health yet and not fully out of the woods.
Moss Rose
Laoniang have it a very vigorous trim 1-2 weeks ago when I discovered that it was infected with the mealybugs as well. Chopped off all the dead or dying stalks. And sprayed the rest of the plant with neem oil...
And so I've been trimming affected parts and spraying the neem oil on and off. Happy to see that new shoots and leaves are sprouting. This one needs further work before it can be restored to its full glory again...right now, it has not flowered since Day 2 of CNY when it used to have at least 1 bloom each day. I hope to nurse it back to that state again!
Local Pomegranate
Despite looking half-dead, this plant never ceases to amaze me. It has 3 flower buds again...if no birds come to pick at them, I believe most of the buds will develop into fruits again...:)
Fox-tail Fern
Damn cute. It flowered...tiny little white flowers...so tiny...but they are drying up already....
Tillandsias
Right now, if I have the time, I'll try to read up more on tillandsia care...
I have 3 of such airplants which I brought back from the office....though I've not specifically identified one of them. One's a Tillandsia Ionantha, another's a Tillandsia Caput Medusae and the last one....no idea what it is haha....
Terrarium
Bruoght 2 back from the office. The almost 2 yr old terrarium....sigh...heart-breaking...the plants inside mostly died. All within a few days after bringing it back home. They must have been too used to the aircon in the office....plant shock given the warmth of the house...Now all that's left is the moss bed and a tiny scraggly green fittonia that seems like it's going going gone soon too.....see how....
CB Day #10
I still find it hard to say CB or CCB....Circuit Breaker and Covid Circuit Breaker...
Because I'm so used to the Hokkien version of these 2 acronyms....
Last night was a shiong one where I was woken up twice by Alyssa, once by Nadya who kicked me, once by Nadya again who got fed-up when Alyssa kicked her, and twice by the helper who was not so subtle when she woke to use the common toilet. Grand total of 6 times...I thought I'd be extremely zombiefied but....so far so good...running on adrenaline....
The day's gone by pretty ok so far. Hope it stays this way for the rest of the day.
I got Nadya to do her work. Managed to get Alyssa to do some work as well. Alyssa was also quite good today and read books (or rather looked at the pictures in the books) while chilling in between doing work. Managed to do some of my own work as well and also got Alyssa to watch 2 videos uploaded by her school for her learning.
Took a 10-min nap when putting Alyssa to sleep for her afternoon nap....
And now...back to work while K is with Nadya doing her online learning stuff....
Ganbatte!!!
Because I'm so used to the Hokkien version of these 2 acronyms....
Last night was a shiong one where I was woken up twice by Alyssa, once by Nadya who kicked me, once by Nadya again who got fed-up when Alyssa kicked her, and twice by the helper who was not so subtle when she woke to use the common toilet. Grand total of 6 times...I thought I'd be extremely zombiefied but....so far so good...running on adrenaline....
The day's gone by pretty ok so far. Hope it stays this way for the rest of the day.
I got Nadya to do her work. Managed to get Alyssa to do some work as well. Alyssa was also quite good today and read books (or rather looked at the pictures in the books) while chilling in between doing work. Managed to do some of my own work as well and also got Alyssa to watch 2 videos uploaded by her school for her learning.
Took a 10-min nap when putting Alyssa to sleep for her afternoon nap....
And now...back to work while K is with Nadya doing her online learning stuff....
Ganbatte!!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Nadya
Ok, so Nadya's max is 2 days.
Today's Wednesday. It's 8:45am in the morning.
She's less motivated to do her work. And keeps requesting help for simple stuff that she would normally be able to do on her own.
She just started crying.
The same last week. HBL started on Wednesday and she did well for the first 2 days.
On Friday morning she was whiny and cried as well.
They have it more difficult these days. Compared to when I was a kid I don't ever remember having to do any homework or stuff when I was in P1 or 2. I only remember having Chinese tuition and then half the time my mind was in the air during tuition also haha.
Ganbatte....to all
Today's Wednesday. It's 8:45am in the morning.
She's less motivated to do her work. And keeps requesting help for simple stuff that she would normally be able to do on her own.
She just started crying.
The same last week. HBL started on Wednesday and she did well for the first 2 days.
On Friday morning she was whiny and cried as well.
They have it more difficult these days. Compared to when I was a kid I don't ever remember having to do any homework or stuff when I was in P1 or 2. I only remember having Chinese tuition and then half the time my mind was in the air during tuition also haha.
Ganbatte....to all
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Breathe
Jiayou Mama.
You can do this.
Breathe....
Remind yourself not to get too anxious.
Else your stomach chui...and not good for your mind also....
Tough morning juggling 2 girls. I spent 3 hours writing an email and an hour out of that trying to read through a long email.
Hope it gets easier as the days go by....
Might need to reconfig a little.
See how.
Ganbatte
Hae suiss-da
Yu!
You can do this.
Breathe....
Remind yourself not to get too anxious.
Else your stomach chui...and not good for your mind also....
Tough morning juggling 2 girls. I spent 3 hours writing an email and an hour out of that trying to read through a long email.
Hope it gets easier as the days go by....
Might need to reconfig a little.
See how.
Ganbatte
Hae suiss-da
Yu!
Monday, April 13, 2020
HBL + WFH days
Multi-tasking on HBL days means my already flighty brain is further tested...sometimes I feel more bird-brained than ever. Anxiety levels are up in the mornings too when both girls want my attention and my laptop screen is also blinking with DM messages from my team-mates.
Each girl has both online and offline stuff to do, for 3-4 subjects for school. And for their enrichment classes as well. Sometimes the schedules and instructions given to us are clear and easy to understand. Sometimes the instructions and what to do are not clear and we have to spend some time figuring out what exactly the school or enrichment centre wants us to do.
Meal planning is no longer for each weekend but for each day now haha.
Glad that I have a helper to settle the physical chores and cooking.
We've been experimenting with cooking as well, with the kids. I've taught Nadya how to make toast using a frying pan (we don't have a toaster at home). We've made chocolate chip cookies, pancakes and this afternoon K embarked on an endeavour to make pear crumble pie...hope it turns out well. :)
(p/s: He is providing eye power and some helicopter instructions, helper is making most of the pie, and the girls are helping (or messing up) out here and here....)
Thankful too that work seems to have slowed down abit...maybe in large part because the higher-ups are roped in to settle Covid issues and other urgent matters like 5G.
Fingers crossed for the days to come...:)
Of Arrows...and ECAs
Hats off and kudos to all my colleagues who were activated in the past 1-2 weeks to help out in various matters relating to the Covid-19 situation.
I've colleagues who were asked to be safety distancing ambassadors, and to help in other frontline and background work, which are not convenient to be shared here.
I was arrowed a small task yesterday as well. If the boss' boss calls you on a Sunday at 1pm, you better pick his call....and of course, I'd already prepped myself in case I had to go out to do something. I was thankful it was something that could be settled from home. Although it was something urgent urgent urgent.
Another Ministry was requesting information that wasn't readily available. Had to activate another tech colleague to extract the data out for me and has to sieve through and massage the data a little before I could get the info out. Settled the matter in 1.5hrs, with no follow-ups needed from that Ministry.
Phew.
Public and civil servants are being recruited left, right and centre to do all sorts of stuff now...But I think all teachers are spared this as they've enough on their plates what with all the HBL going on.
I've colleagues who were asked to be safety distancing ambassadors, and to help in other frontline and background work, which are not convenient to be shared here.
I was arrowed a small task yesterday as well. If the boss' boss calls you on a Sunday at 1pm, you better pick his call....and of course, I'd already prepped myself in case I had to go out to do something. I was thankful it was something that could be settled from home. Although it was something urgent urgent urgent.
Another Ministry was requesting information that wasn't readily available. Had to activate another tech colleague to extract the data out for me and has to sieve through and massage the data a little before I could get the info out. Settled the matter in 1.5hrs, with no follow-ups needed from that Ministry.
Phew.
Public and civil servants are being recruited left, right and centre to do all sorts of stuff now...But I think all teachers are spared this as they've enough on their plates what with all the HBL going on.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Day 1: WFH + HBL
Today is Day 1 of handling WFH + HBL at the same time.
We chose to put Alyssa at inlaws place. They can help her with her HBL there.
We'll concentrate on Nadya at home as she needs to access SLS plus worksheets plus other stuff like her workbooks.
Jiayou.
I think today's level of multi-tasking will increase by many folds....
It's 8:15am.
I made toast together with her earlier on and we had scrambled eggs as well for breakfast.
I've started clearing emails and gotten her parked at her writing desk. She's doing her worksheets now....and I've already gotten 2-3 questions from her...
May my patience remain as calm as it is right now...
Jiayou!!!
We chose to put Alyssa at inlaws place. They can help her with her HBL there.
We'll concentrate on Nadya at home as she needs to access SLS plus worksheets plus other stuff like her workbooks.
Jiayou.
I think today's level of multi-tasking will increase by many folds....
It's 8:15am.
I made toast together with her earlier on and we had scrambled eggs as well for breakfast.
I've started clearing emails and gotten her parked at her writing desk. She's doing her worksheets now....and I've already gotten 2-3 questions from her...
May my patience remain as calm as it is right now...
Jiayou!!!
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
OFF WITH YOU DAMN BUGS!
My moss rose suddenly didn't do well about a month back.
From bright green leaves and blooming flowers everyday, it went to zero flowers....and a dull green or grey leaves....its stalks and stems got droopy and a small number of stalks dried up too....
It sprouted some small new bunches of leaves but that's about it.
I'd not had time to take a closer look at it. Till this period of time. (Thank god for the telecommuting arrangement in this covid-19 situation)
And then on Saturday afternoon. I discovered the reason why it wasn't doing well.
TMD!!!!
It was infected with mealybugs too!!!
!@#%^&$*#&W^#$$%^&*
The asparagus fern which I threw away almost 1 month back damn power lor....somehow it infected both my water plum bonsai and this pot of moss rose as well....but the fern was at least 50cm away from both pots and the bugs would have had to go round a pillar somemore in order to reach these 2 pots....
I wonder how the hell they got infected as well?!
The water plum's doing better now after almost a week of treatment...that involved me painstakingly removing the bugs from the plant one by one. (Took me alot of effort and eye power to spot the bugs below the leaves....) Let's just say each bug is less than 1mm in size...zzzz....I don't know how I do it...but oh well, this laobu wants to save her plant babies!!
I've since trimmed off some of the infected stalks from the moss rose....and sprayed neem oil mixture on it....Let's just say I was so mad at the bugs I went apeshit on the plant and sprayed quite a fair bit of the oil mixture on the plant....I hope it gets well soon...
It's currently cloudy and rainy now so I might not be able to take a closer look at the bonsai and the moss rose today...I need full and bright sunlight to examine them properly and to remove the bugs....Old already....the bright sun helps me see much better and also aids me in spotting the damn bugs.
Jiayou you plants...Fighting!! Fight off the bugs!
From bright green leaves and blooming flowers everyday, it went to zero flowers....and a dull green or grey leaves....its stalks and stems got droopy and a small number of stalks dried up too....
It sprouted some small new bunches of leaves but that's about it.
I'd not had time to take a closer look at it. Till this period of time. (Thank god for the telecommuting arrangement in this covid-19 situation)
And then on Saturday afternoon. I discovered the reason why it wasn't doing well.
TMD!!!!
It was infected with mealybugs too!!!
!@#%^&$*#&W^#$$%^&*
The asparagus fern which I threw away almost 1 month back damn power lor....somehow it infected both my water plum bonsai and this pot of moss rose as well....but the fern was at least 50cm away from both pots and the bugs would have had to go round a pillar somemore in order to reach these 2 pots....
I wonder how the hell they got infected as well?!
The water plum's doing better now after almost a week of treatment...that involved me painstakingly removing the bugs from the plant one by one. (Took me alot of effort and eye power to spot the bugs below the leaves....) Let's just say each bug is less than 1mm in size...zzzz....I don't know how I do it...but oh well, this laobu wants to save her plant babies!!
I've since trimmed off some of the infected stalks from the moss rose....and sprayed neem oil mixture on it....Let's just say I was so mad at the bugs I went apeshit on the plant and sprayed quite a fair bit of the oil mixture on the plant....I hope it gets well soon...
It's currently cloudy and rainy now so I might not be able to take a closer look at the bonsai and the moss rose today...I need full and bright sunlight to examine them properly and to remove the bugs....Old already....the bright sun helps me see much better and also aids me in spotting the damn bugs.
Jiayou you plants...Fighting!! Fight off the bugs!
Terrarium....
I brought home my 2 terrariums from the office.
Sad lah, the main fittonia/moss terrarium is not doing well at home. Too hot I think.
It's been surviving very well for 1.5years in the office....but one of the 2 fittonias within, the pink one, started shedding leaves and started rotting 1-2 days after arriving home...
:(
It's been with me for 1.5years alr....
I hope the other fittonia survives, though last night I just removed one of its biggest leaves because it dropped off too....
:( :(
Stay with me ok!!!
Laobu is trying her best to save you!!!!
Sad lah, the main fittonia/moss terrarium is not doing well at home. Too hot I think.
It's been surviving very well for 1.5years in the office....but one of the 2 fittonias within, the pink one, started shedding leaves and started rotting 1-2 days after arriving home...
:(
It's been with me for 1.5years alr....
I hope the other fittonia survives, though last night I just removed one of its biggest leaves because it dropped off too....
:( :(
Stay with me ok!!!
Laobu is trying her best to save you!!!!
Monday, April 06, 2020
WFH...HBL...
Things have been...somewhat friggin busy and time flies by each day pretty quickly.
I start work early at 745am at home...and then it's all the way till 5-45 or 6pm. In between I take some time out to cook and have lunch. I've been pretty much addicted to porridge and I've been having pumpkin porridge and broccoli porridge with minced meat and spring onions alot. It's really quite yummy, delicious and very easy to prepare.
Been inundated with lots of updates by the government, from the bosses and HR at work, and from the schools, and from enrichment and student care.
Been trying to plan things here and there as well. Getting the kids' stuff ready, planning meals, taking stock of and planning groceries, etc.
In between, I spent half a day last Thursday at my parents' old flat to clear out some of my old stuff. Brought back some things and they're sitting in a corner of my room but I've only had the chance to go through and unpack and put away like maybe 5-10% of the things only....:(
And been trying to keep up with various folks touching base on WA as well...be it long time friends, or colleagues needing to rant or other team-mates seeking help on work stuff.
Been trying to figure out how to do HBL with Nadya while WFH at the same time...She's not nearly independent enough to do learning on her own yet...Something's gotta give. And it doesn't take a genius to know that work's gotta give a little. I might have to make up for it by working more at night as well...if there are urgent things...I don't know...I'll see how it goes...
It's gonna be this mode for the next few weeks and maybe more seeing as how the numbers are getting quite concerning yesterday...120 new infections confirmed, the highest in a single day since 3 months ago. Gosh.
In a way, I'm glad Mama isn't around anymore. I definitely don't want her to be caught up in all this...and be at risk of anything.
Jiayou...
Ganbatte...
Just know that you're not the only one dealing with this....all Singaporeans are...and your friends who are parents are too...
*yuuuuuu*
I start work early at 745am at home...and then it's all the way till 5-45 or 6pm. In between I take some time out to cook and have lunch. I've been pretty much addicted to porridge and I've been having pumpkin porridge and broccoli porridge with minced meat and spring onions alot. It's really quite yummy, delicious and very easy to prepare.
Been inundated with lots of updates by the government, from the bosses and HR at work, and from the schools, and from enrichment and student care.
Been trying to plan things here and there as well. Getting the kids' stuff ready, planning meals, taking stock of and planning groceries, etc.
In between, I spent half a day last Thursday at my parents' old flat to clear out some of my old stuff. Brought back some things and they're sitting in a corner of my room but I've only had the chance to go through and unpack and put away like maybe 5-10% of the things only....:(
And been trying to keep up with various folks touching base on WA as well...be it long time friends, or colleagues needing to rant or other team-mates seeking help on work stuff.
Been trying to figure out how to do HBL with Nadya while WFH at the same time...She's not nearly independent enough to do learning on her own yet...Something's gotta give. And it doesn't take a genius to know that work's gotta give a little. I might have to make up for it by working more at night as well...if there are urgent things...I don't know...I'll see how it goes...
It's gonna be this mode for the next few weeks and maybe more seeing as how the numbers are getting quite concerning yesterday...120 new infections confirmed, the highest in a single day since 3 months ago. Gosh.
In a way, I'm glad Mama isn't around anymore. I definitely don't want her to be caught up in all this...and be at risk of anything.
Jiayou...
Ganbatte...
Just know that you're not the only one dealing with this....all Singaporeans are...and your friends who are parents are too...
*yuuuuuu*
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Rant time....
There were several times when I wanted to rebutt some comments online. But I held myself back. I didn't want to get embroiled in any arguments with people who are already biased against the G.
Too many keyboard warriors these days. Complaining about everything and how the government is not doing enough to handle the Covid-19 situation in Singapore. Commenting that the government is silly and should have done this and that from the start. Remarking that the government is only interested in making money and keeping the economy going. Grousing that the government should be doing a lockdown.
Hello. You guys are so smart, then you go and run a country lah. You're having a really micro view and may not be able to see other causalities, impacts and intricacies involved. You think implementing a full lockdown is so easy? Do you even know how many people will be affected? Do you really think running a country can be based on knee-jerk reactions with little heed for forword planning, managing livelihoods, keeping ground sentiments calm and steady, and still keeping things under control? Do you even know what goes on behind the scenes to keep brats like you safe?
Stuff that people are trying to stir shit on:
#SGUnited
Come on folks. We can do better than this right? Instead of being so negative and bashing the G every single chance you've got, can't you just support them and the frontliners' efforts? Really, I cannot imagine the immense pressure the government, and all the frontliners are facing...and my respect goes out to all the educators and childcare providers too...who are still helping the population educate and care for our kids. As well as the delivery riders...the transport operators...and food stall operators...and...all our essential service providers....
Too many keyboard warriors these days. Complaining about everything and how the government is not doing enough to handle the Covid-19 situation in Singapore. Commenting that the government is silly and should have done this and that from the start. Remarking that the government is only interested in making money and keeping the economy going. Grousing that the government should be doing a lockdown.
Hello. You guys are so smart, then you go and run a country lah. You're having a really micro view and may not be able to see other causalities, impacts and intricacies involved. You think implementing a full lockdown is so easy? Do you even know how many people will be affected? Do you really think running a country can be based on knee-jerk reactions with little heed for forword planning, managing livelihoods, keeping ground sentiments calm and steady, and still keeping things under control? Do you even know what goes on behind the scenes to keep brats like you safe?
Stuff that people are trying to stir shit on:
- The G is spending alot of taxpayers' money to house SHN folks at 5-star hotels. Why cannot put them in dormitories and chalets and Hotel81/Fragrance budget hotels? - More than 7,500 rooms have been blocked out. How many dormitories and budget hotel rooms can meet that requirement? Chalets and such type of bungalows also don't have single rooms (with attached bathrooms) to isolate each SHN individual. Bigger hotel chains also come with a battalion of background support staff to help take care of these SHN people. I think it's a win-win to keep these staff employed, keep the hotels going, and also provide enough amenities to ensure the safety of the SHN people and the support staff!
- The G is silly to not be closing schools, when other countries have done so - What works for another country may not work for us...if all schools are closed, what happens to the kids? Childcare issues? Not everyone can work from home, not everyone draws a monthly salary, some are daily-rated and some are trying to make ends meet. As it is, with HBL being implemented one a day a week now, the G is ramping up for the day we really need to go full blown HBL if schools close. The possibility is there, the plans are there, we just need to get people ready and do drills for now. So that there's no last minute hectic and panicked scrambles to get everything ready when the time calls for full HBL to happen. Step by step also prepares the public mentally, believe it or not.
- The G is silly not to do a lockdown, when other countries have done so - same thing, what works for another country may not work for us. Many livelihoods will be affected, if the G comes out to give them $$ to support, then they will get lambasted again for using taxpayers' money indiscriminately. Full lockdown and economy goes zero? The who gets the blame? The G again? Full lockdown and our food sources how? Are Singaporeans prepared to handle a lockdown mentally and emotionally? Change to dorscon orange people already panic and toilet paper had a shortage for awhile. Implement a lockdown and people are just gonna into a state of constant panic...it's a "damned if i don't, lagi damned if i do" situation for the G. So many considerations.
#SGUnited
Come on folks. We can do better than this right? Instead of being so negative and bashing the G every single chance you've got, can't you just support them and the frontliners' efforts? Really, I cannot imagine the immense pressure the government, and all the frontliners are facing...and my respect goes out to all the educators and childcare providers too...who are still helping the population educate and care for our kids. As well as the delivery riders...the transport operators...and food stall operators...and...all our essential service providers....
Friday, March 27, 2020
WFH
Lunch was yummy yesterday.
Pumpkin porridge with minced meat seasoned with soy sauce and oyster sauce.
I think...I'll have that today again...:) Light on the stomach, nutritious and yummy!
I love working from home...:)
Cos I get to settle my own simple meals...and I get to shower when I want to...and I get to poo in peace HAHA....
Only thing is I don't have a proper workdesk...so I sit on my bed with my laptop propped on a small portable breakfast-in-bed table thingy from IKEA...makes my neck ache afterwhile....
Pumpkin porridge with minced meat seasoned with soy sauce and oyster sauce.
I think...I'll have that today again...:) Light on the stomach, nutritious and yummy!
I love working from home...:)
Cos I get to settle my own simple meals...and I get to shower when I want to...and I get to poo in peace HAHA....
Only thing is I don't have a proper workdesk...so I sit on my bed with my laptop propped on a small portable breakfast-in-bed table thingy from IKEA...makes my neck ache afterwhile....
SM
That's my designation in office.
I found a new meaning to SM this morning. Silly Mama.
I brought Alyssa to school....and at the security post, the uncle told me. "今天kindergarten好像没有开对吗? 他们说要装修还是什么....."
*FACEPALM*
Yes....I completely forgot about it.
Distracted with work, Nadya's school stuff, the constant notifications and updates from enrichment centres and work chat groups (due to half of the team working from home), and K being at reservist this week...The school had actually given us notification 1 or 2 weeks prior that they would be closed today for some minor works to be done to some of the school premises.
And so there I was...
Carrying her school bag, and planning to take the bus back after dropping her off.
And so there she was...
holding a bag of small muffins for breakfast, and clad in her school uniform with a ponytail, and looking at me with her big eyes wondering what happened.
"Why Mama? What did the uncle say? What happened?"
LOL....I couldn't help but laugh at my silliness and the ridiculousness of the situation.
I explained and apologised to Alyssa and the sweet girl said "It's ok Mama". She held my hand and gave me 2 sweet pecks on back of my hand.
Called inlaws for rescue....lol....FIL came to pick us up and while waiting for them to come, we had our breakfast sitting at the taxi stand at Paya Lebar Square...
Alyssa will be spending the day at inlaws' place again today. I can't take care of her at home cos I need to settle work.....It's her 3rd day there this week...:D First 2 days on Tues & Wed were due to her being sick and having stomach discomfort...
I found a new meaning to SM this morning. Silly Mama.
I brought Alyssa to school....and at the security post, the uncle told me. "今天kindergarten好像没有开对吗? 他们说要装修还是什么....."
*FACEPALM*
Yes....I completely forgot about it.
Distracted with work, Nadya's school stuff, the constant notifications and updates from enrichment centres and work chat groups (due to half of the team working from home), and K being at reservist this week...The school had actually given us notification 1 or 2 weeks prior that they would be closed today for some minor works to be done to some of the school premises.
And so there I was...
Carrying her school bag, and planning to take the bus back after dropping her off.
And so there she was...
holding a bag of small muffins for breakfast, and clad in her school uniform with a ponytail, and looking at me with her big eyes wondering what happened.
"Why Mama? What did the uncle say? What happened?"
LOL....I couldn't help but laugh at my silliness and the ridiculousness of the situation.
I explained and apologised to Alyssa and the sweet girl said "It's ok Mama". She held my hand and gave me 2 sweet pecks on back of my hand.
Called inlaws for rescue....lol....FIL came to pick us up and while waiting for them to come, we had our breakfast sitting at the taxi stand at Paya Lebar Square...
Alyssa will be spending the day at inlaws' place again today. I can't take care of her at home cos I need to settle work.....It's her 3rd day there this week...:D First 2 days on Tues & Wed were due to her being sick and having stomach discomfort...
Of goodbyes, bugs and others...
Chapter 1: Bye
On 18 Mar, I threw away the Stevia...it gradually got more and more brown leaves over the last 2-3 months and dropped many leaves. It came to me in mid December with a full bushy head of leaves. It ended up as a pretty bald and brown plant...dunno why also...:(
On 18 Mar, I also threw away the asparagus fern...it was one of my fav plants...:( It got infected with mealybugs. Dunno how also....:( My guess is that it was already infected at the nursery. There were too many of them and I couldn't get rid of them fully due to the plant's structure of stems and leaves. Silly me didn't explore using neem oil and homemade insecticide yet at that point...I threw the whole pot away lest it affect the other plants near it.
====================
Chapter 2: Bugs...oh the horror
On 23 or 24 Mar....to my horror, I discovered that the water plum bonsai my FIL gave me....had some mealybugs on it. They were found on the seed pods, and some new flower buds. I was wondering why the plant had stopped flowering for a few weeks when it previously had at least 1-2 flowers at any point in time! And I was wondering why some leaves were turning yellow....now i know why....
I was somewhat upset. It was a prized plant and my virgin bonsai pot...Luckily the infestation was only in the early stages, I think...and whatever little bugs I could see that day, I cleaned off with water and squashed the bugs with a tissue. I'm checking the plant each day now and there seems to be only 1 bug or 2 that I see each day, which is good.
I did some research and will be getting neem oil from a colleague and making my own pesticide to get rid of whatever remaining bugs there might be.
OFF WITH YOU MEALYBUGS! LEAVE MY PLANT ALONE!
====================
Chapter 3: In other news....
I've been working from home this entire week and got a colleague in office to help spray my 3 Tillandsias, and a small pot of moss rose. I hope they are surviving well...Supposed to be back to office next Monday...fingers crossed they are still doing ok!
For some reason, I kill succulents alot although they are supposed to be sibei easy to care for. But there's a pot of succulent at home that surprisingly, has survived for at least 6 months already. I also lost count of when I actually got it because I didn't pay much attention to it as I thought it would die pretty fast. Anyway, happy it's still surviving lol!
Indian Borage is growing wild and rampantly...I've 3 pots of it again....and given away enough cuttings to colleagues and friends to make at least 3-4 pots.
Aloes are sprouting like nobody's business too..I don't know what to do with so many pots of aloe vera hmmm....
The mosquito plant didn't survive after a year plus...K planted one scraggly cutting into a pot...it's barely surviving and half of it is green...but it still smells lovely.
The local pomegranate is pretty ok...but it alternates between on the brink of death and suddenly sprouting many new shoots....half of the plant is dead though....many dead branches that have no new shoot whatsoever.
The Spanish pomegranate somehow grew more last year....but is tall and scraggly....not sure what to do with it also....
Foxtail fern is doing ok and it grew out 1 or 2 new shoots so that's going pretty good :)
On 18 Mar, I threw away the Stevia...it gradually got more and more brown leaves over the last 2-3 months and dropped many leaves. It came to me in mid December with a full bushy head of leaves. It ended up as a pretty bald and brown plant...dunno why also...:(
On 18 Mar, I also threw away the asparagus fern...it was one of my fav plants...:( It got infected with mealybugs. Dunno how also....:( My guess is that it was already infected at the nursery. There were too many of them and I couldn't get rid of them fully due to the plant's structure of stems and leaves. Silly me didn't explore using neem oil and homemade insecticide yet at that point...I threw the whole pot away lest it affect the other plants near it.
====================
Chapter 2: Bugs...oh the horror
On 23 or 24 Mar....to my horror, I discovered that the water plum bonsai my FIL gave me....had some mealybugs on it. They were found on the seed pods, and some new flower buds. I was wondering why the plant had stopped flowering for a few weeks when it previously had at least 1-2 flowers at any point in time! And I was wondering why some leaves were turning yellow....now i know why....
I was somewhat upset. It was a prized plant and my virgin bonsai pot...Luckily the infestation was only in the early stages, I think...and whatever little bugs I could see that day, I cleaned off with water and squashed the bugs with a tissue. I'm checking the plant each day now and there seems to be only 1 bug or 2 that I see each day, which is good.
I did some research and will be getting neem oil from a colleague and making my own pesticide to get rid of whatever remaining bugs there might be.
OFF WITH YOU MEALYBUGS! LEAVE MY PLANT ALONE!
====================
Chapter 3: In other news....
I've been working from home this entire week and got a colleague in office to help spray my 3 Tillandsias, and a small pot of moss rose. I hope they are surviving well...Supposed to be back to office next Monday...fingers crossed they are still doing ok!
For some reason, I kill succulents alot although they are supposed to be sibei easy to care for. But there's a pot of succulent at home that surprisingly, has survived for at least 6 months already. I also lost count of when I actually got it because I didn't pay much attention to it as I thought it would die pretty fast. Anyway, happy it's still surviving lol!
Indian Borage is growing wild and rampantly...I've 3 pots of it again....and given away enough cuttings to colleagues and friends to make at least 3-4 pots.
Aloes are sprouting like nobody's business too..I don't know what to do with so many pots of aloe vera hmmm....
The mosquito plant didn't survive after a year plus...K planted one scraggly cutting into a pot...it's barely surviving and half of it is green...but it still smells lovely.
The local pomegranate is pretty ok...but it alternates between on the brink of death and suddenly sprouting many new shoots....half of the plant is dead though....many dead branches that have no new shoot whatsoever.
The Spanish pomegranate somehow grew more last year....but is tall and scraggly....not sure what to do with it also....
Foxtail fern is doing ok and it grew out 1 or 2 new shoots so that's going pretty good :)
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Mum guilt
For having made the small one cry this morning because she was being uncooperative and refusing to brush her teeth....and the clock was ticking.
For having made the big one cry last night before bed time because she
was being difficult and whiny and grouchy.
For maybe I could be better.
For maybe I'm not doing enough to guide them.
For maybe I'm not being a good enough influence on them.
For all the ways I am lacking.
==========
But I'm trying.
Sometimes blindly trying but trying nevertheless.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
School Hols - Part 2
Nadya woke up all bright and chirpy today.
What a stark contrast to her usual school day "morning face".
It's her first taste ever of having a school holiday and I think she likes it pretty much so far.
She'll be at after school care everyday and they have some sort of a food/cooking theme for this week....
Heard from a friend that they made salad at the centre yesterday...let's see what Nadya brings back this evening....
What a stark contrast to her usual school day "morning face".
It's her first taste ever of having a school holiday and I think she likes it pretty much so far.
She'll be at after school care everyday and they have some sort of a food/cooking theme for this week....
Heard from a friend that they made salad at the centre yesterday...let's see what Nadya brings back this evening....
School Hols - Part 1: Kidstop and Sushi Express
Brought the girls to Kidstop yesterday as it was Nadya's first day of the March school holidays.
We made Alyssa "ponteng" school so she could join in on the outing haha.
The place was smaller than I expected but it was pretty fun for me. I liked the things there...though some of the audio were a little loud for me.
Unfortunately....the 2 girls were pretty grouchy and rejected many stations...they didn't even allow me to try some of the stations that I was interested in and dragged me away...
I was bummed that the baby chicks station was under maintenance though. That's the only thing I remember (and my most favourite moment obviously!) from visiting the Science Centre all of 30 years ago....
The only 2 stations they were willing to partake in was (1) an interactive digital station where you could "colour" your own fishes, dolphins, turtles and sharks via a touchscreen, save it and have it show up on the screen/wall behind the station, and (2) the sandpit area where you can "dig for" and "unearth" dinosaur bones like an archeologist....
Oh well, luckily the tickets weren't too expensive....:)
Alyssa is recently in love with PLQ and always asked to go there so we brought them there after Kidstop. Nadya is in love with Sushi Express and so we went there for lunch. She was so excited and kept teaching K & I how to take hot green tea, where to get the chopsticks, soy sauce and plates from, how to get the food off the conveyor belt, how to return the sushi covers, etc.
I just realised how much Alyssa loves octopus sushi...never knew she was so into chewy food...Nadya was so into the crabstick sushi...I lost track of how many she had...K as usual....had at least 12-15 plates on his own I think...
I was a little underwhelmed by the place though...they didn't have any hot stuff like chawanmushi or miso soup or any other sides...which was a bummer for me...
We made Alyssa "ponteng" school so she could join in on the outing haha.
The place was smaller than I expected but it was pretty fun for me. I liked the things there...though some of the audio were a little loud for me.
Unfortunately....the 2 girls were pretty grouchy and rejected many stations...they didn't even allow me to try some of the stations that I was interested in and dragged me away...
I was bummed that the baby chicks station was under maintenance though. That's the only thing I remember (and my most favourite moment obviously!) from visiting the Science Centre all of 30 years ago....
The only 2 stations they were willing to partake in was (1) an interactive digital station where you could "colour" your own fishes, dolphins, turtles and sharks via a touchscreen, save it and have it show up on the screen/wall behind the station, and (2) the sandpit area where you can "dig for" and "unearth" dinosaur bones like an archeologist....
Oh well, luckily the tickets weren't too expensive....:)
Alyssa is recently in love with PLQ and always asked to go there so we brought them there after Kidstop. Nadya is in love with Sushi Express and so we went there for lunch. She was so excited and kept teaching K & I how to take hot green tea, where to get the chopsticks, soy sauce and plates from, how to get the food off the conveyor belt, how to return the sushi covers, etc.
I just realised how much Alyssa loves octopus sushi...never knew she was so into chewy food...Nadya was so into the crabstick sushi...I lost track of how many she had...K as usual....had at least 12-15 plates on his own I think...
I was a little underwhelmed by the place though...they didn't have any hot stuff like chawanmushi or miso soup or any other sides...which was a bummer for me...
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Whiff
Fascinating how our 5 senses work....sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell...
Doubly fascinating how just one small whiff of a passing fragrance evoked some memories in me this morning. Walked past a guy who was using CK One.
And it immediately transported me back to 2002. A long forgotten memory. But it was of an interesting and fun and exciting time.
Of when I had just graduated from NTU and was working as a management trainee in a mens' clothing retailer. (side note, I was more like a high-class salesgirl actually). A colleague and I were stationed at the Takashimaya department store where our line had a small area in the mens' clothing section. Right next to us was a Calvin Klein fragrances pop-up, it was manned by 2 young boys daily and the 4 of us grew quite close since there wasn't much customers to begin with.
Some harmless flirting here and there. One of the boys (who was 3 years younger and looked like Zai Zai from F4) had a crush on me and sometimes he would send me home if we got off work at the same time. He stayed in Bedok and would bother to send me back by train and walk me home from Tampines MRT, before making his way back. On hindsight, quite 感动 actually haha.
The guys would be in black shirt and black pants everyday, my colleague and I would be in a white or blue top everyday with black pants.
AND.
The 4 of us had a free flow of CK One to put on everyday LOL...
That citrusy scent is still one of my favs...I had a whole bunch of samples of the various CK fragrances too...I kept a bunch of those little litmus-paper-like pieces in my bag too....so that my bag would smell nice everyday when I opened it lol...
Ah those young and carefree days...:)
Fun and exciting....:)
Doubly fascinating how just one small whiff of a passing fragrance evoked some memories in me this morning. Walked past a guy who was using CK One.
And it immediately transported me back to 2002. A long forgotten memory. But it was of an interesting and fun and exciting time.
Of when I had just graduated from NTU and was working as a management trainee in a mens' clothing retailer. (side note, I was more like a high-class salesgirl actually). A colleague and I were stationed at the Takashimaya department store where our line had a small area in the mens' clothing section. Right next to us was a Calvin Klein fragrances pop-up, it was manned by 2 young boys daily and the 4 of us grew quite close since there wasn't much customers to begin with.
Some harmless flirting here and there. One of the boys (who was 3 years younger and looked like Zai Zai from F4) had a crush on me and sometimes he would send me home if we got off work at the same time. He stayed in Bedok and would bother to send me back by train and walk me home from Tampines MRT, before making his way back. On hindsight, quite 感动 actually haha.
The guys would be in black shirt and black pants everyday, my colleague and I would be in a white or blue top everyday with black pants.
AND.
The 4 of us had a free flow of CK One to put on everyday LOL...
That citrusy scent is still one of my favs...I had a whole bunch of samples of the various CK fragrances too...I kept a bunch of those little litmus-paper-like pieces in my bag too....so that my bag would smell nice everyday when I opened it lol...
Ah those young and carefree days...:)
Fun and exciting....:)
Monday, March 09, 2020
Breathe......
The last time I was involved in a presentation to a Minister was in Jan 2018. And that was to a very nice Minister who had a friendly and grandfatherly disposition. He seldom bit and even if he did, it was in a gentle manner. Prior to 2018, the only other time I had to be in a presentation/session with a Minister was WAY back in 2008.
I need to be in a session with the current Minister this afternoon. My boss is presenting but if he gets stuck with any question, then he'll look to me to respond. Fingers crossed that it doesn't get to this.
A little nervous because this Minister's is more imposing and has a reputation for being rather no-nonsense and hard-driving.
Jiayou Michelle...!
You can do this...!
Breathe...
I need to be in a session with the current Minister this afternoon. My boss is presenting but if he gets stuck with any question, then he'll look to me to respond. Fingers crossed that it doesn't get to this.
A little nervous because this Minister's is more imposing and has a reputation for being rather no-nonsense and hard-driving.
Jiayou Michelle...!
You can do this...!
Breathe...
Thankful
- I'm able-bodied.
- I have a roof over my head and food on the table.
- I have K and the girls to nourish my heart.
- Parents on both sides are doing good and independent enough, though petty ailments bother them here and there.
- I have an understanding and flexible boss.
- I have good friends. We may not see of speak to each other often enough but I know they have my back.
- I have a helper.
- I have hobbies and stuff I am interested in.
- I have good friends at work who are on my side.
Reminder.
To self.
Friday, March 06, 2020
thicker skin
I should learn to have thicker skin.
Thicker skin to taiji.
Thicker skin to buat bodoh.
Thicker skin to push things away.
Thicker skin to taiji.
Thicker skin to buat bodoh.
Thicker skin to push things away.
The Coll
Caught me in a bad time.
Ruffled my feathers.
She created an issue, which is affecting my work and my partners. I'm giving her a timeline for her to cough up staff to settle the issue. Said she's understaffed and wants me to push back my timeline.
Nabeh. Laoniang is a one-woman operation but I'm still volunteering to step in and get my hands dirty to help settle this issue and you give me this nonsense?
Breathe.....Cool down....
Like what DC said....don't shoot email when you're angry....
Breathe.......
Ruffled my feathers.
She created an issue, which is affecting my work and my partners. I'm giving her a timeline for her to cough up staff to settle the issue. Said she's understaffed and wants me to push back my timeline.
Nabeh. Laoniang is a one-woman operation but I'm still volunteering to step in and get my hands dirty to help settle this issue and you give me this nonsense?
Breathe.....Cool down....
Like what DC said....don't shoot email when you're angry....
Breathe.......
Memories...Music...
I fell out of listening to Mandopop sometime in 2010/2011 and even more so after I shifted out of my parents' place in 2012.
After listening to a playlist this morning hwile working....I've come to realise many of the Mandopop songs of my era evoke a strange bitterweet feeling in me. Myriad emotions.
Sadness. Happiness. Good memories. Bad memories. Hurtful memories. Sweet memories. Nostalgia. My life from 2000 to 2010. Bits and pieces from that decade suddenly flood my mind. Mostly from the mid 2000-s. Friends who are no longer in my circle but who were once a big part of my life and who I saw everyday or every weekend. Those carefree days. The underlying sentimental notes. The angst and confusion I felt in that stage of life. The clubbing. The medical checkups. The medication for 1.5years. The travelling. The coming of age. The bravado I had. The confidence and also lack of. The energy. The zest. The socials.
Thankful for my parents who have been a constant. And the friends who are constants too.
I should stop living in the past? Hmm.
Who's on this morning?
Sun Yan Zi
Xu Shao Yang
May Day
David Tao
Zhou Hui
Fish Leong
Xu Shao Han
Elva Hsiao
SHE
Jolin Tsai
Tao Jing Ying
Faye Wong
Jay Chou
Tanya Chua
After listening to a playlist this morning hwile working....I've come to realise many of the Mandopop songs of my era evoke a strange bitterweet feeling in me. Myriad emotions.
Sadness. Happiness. Good memories. Bad memories. Hurtful memories. Sweet memories. Nostalgia. My life from 2000 to 2010. Bits and pieces from that decade suddenly flood my mind. Mostly from the mid 2000-s. Friends who are no longer in my circle but who were once a big part of my life and who I saw everyday or every weekend. Those carefree days. The underlying sentimental notes. The angst and confusion I felt in that stage of life. The clubbing. The medical checkups. The medication for 1.5years. The travelling. The coming of age. The bravado I had. The confidence and also lack of. The energy. The zest. The socials.
Thankful for my parents who have been a constant. And the friends who are constants too.
I should stop living in the past? Hmm.
Who's on this morning?
Sun Yan Zi
Xu Shao Yang
May Day
David Tao
Zhou Hui
Fish Leong
Xu Shao Han
Elva Hsiao
SHE
Jolin Tsai
Tao Jing Ying
Faye Wong
Jay Chou
Tanya Chua
Thursday, March 05, 2020
Alan Walker
Recently discovered Alan Walker's music and I'm loving it...I think most folks would have heard of Faded before but maybe the rest of his works are less known.
He's been accompanying me while I'm working these 2 days.
Guess I'm into EDM too lol...
Together with kpop, and some old Chinese pop, and some jazz, and some piano/guitar, and some oldies from the 50s, 60s, 70s....strange tastes? I dunno...:)
He's been accompanying me while I'm working these 2 days.
Guess I'm into EDM too lol...
Together with kpop, and some old Chinese pop, and some jazz, and some piano/guitar, and some oldies from the 50s, 60s, 70s....strange tastes? I dunno...:)
Peanut
Working from home today as I've a medial appointment this afternoon and it's just easier to commute to the hospital from home than from office.
On days like this when I work home, K sends Alyssa to her childcare...I said bye to her at the door this morning and she was so reluctant to leave me.
She hugged me tightly several times and seemed genuinely sad to say bye to me...She leaned in several times to say this little mantra that we say to each other in the mornings when she leaves for school and at night before bed...
I wanted to keep her in my arms for as long as possible too...but couldn't drag it out too much.
That little pretty but sad face kinda broke my heart a little so early in the morning....
I miss her.
On days like this when I work home, K sends Alyssa to her childcare...I said bye to her at the door this morning and she was so reluctant to leave me.
She hugged me tightly several times and seemed genuinely sad to say bye to me...She leaned in several times to say this little mantra that we say to each other in the mornings when she leaves for school and at night before bed...
I wanted to keep her in my arms for as long as possible too...but couldn't drag it out too much.
That little pretty but sad face kinda broke my heart a little so early in the morning....
I miss her.
Circles
My boss has always been pretty open with me...he shares confidential stuff with me, sometimes personal stuff as well. I'm not sure if he's like that with others as well (I think he is) but I appreciate that he does share things with me.
He recently shared with me that he's putting up DC for promotion in the upcoming promotion cycle in April/May. It's well deserved I think and I am truly happy for DC, who happens to be a close friend too. Or at least, someone I like and respect and am comfortable working with.
We spoke briefly on some other team leads. It was mostly surface talk as we didn't have much time that day and it was also in an open area.
In the wake of all this...some measure of self-doubt has crept in again...lack of confidence and self-doubt of what I can do or cannot, what I'm good at, what I'm lacking in, what am i contributing (or not) to the team, what am I doing right now in my life, what more can I do, what do I need to do, what should I do at home, am I doing things right, am I taking the right approaches in life and work, do I need to do more and if so, what?
And the list goes on...one of those times where thoughts flow in a continuous circle...just spiralling...and I'm pulled along...ebbing and flowing...sometimes struggling to stay afloat, sometimes above it all.
Stuck in a rut again. Some work to be done to pull myself out of it.
Jiayou Michelle.
Jiayou.
Just......
Keep going....
Keep going forward....
Even if you don't know where you're headed...
Just...
Keep moving forward....
Monday, March 02, 2020
love love love
I was putting the girls to sleep on Saturday night. I stared at their faces after they fell asleep.
So sweet. So cute. So innocent.
And Alyssa is still chubby. Nadya's lost most of her chubbiness already.
Alyssa is sometimes a starfish, splayed out on her back or tummy.
Nadya's either flat on her stomach, or curled up like a foetus.
Love them so much that I feel like I'm Jekyll & Hyde personified.
One moment I feel so much love for them...then 30mins later when they're irritating the hell out of me I wonder how on earth did they come from my belly.....Lol...
Last night, one fell asleep hugging my leg. The other one fell asleep hugging my arm.
And just like that....I had to stay in position for 15-20mins till they were fully asleep...
Feels good when they snuggle in close....:)
So sweet. So cute. So innocent.
And Alyssa is still chubby. Nadya's lost most of her chubbiness already.
Alyssa is sometimes a starfish, splayed out on her back or tummy.
Nadya's either flat on her stomach, or curled up like a foetus.
Love them so much that I feel like I'm Jekyll & Hyde personified.
One moment I feel so much love for them...then 30mins later when they're irritating the hell out of me I wonder how on earth did they come from my belly.....Lol...
Last night, one fell asleep hugging my leg. The other one fell asleep hugging my arm.
And just like that....I had to stay in position for 15-20mins till they were fully asleep...
Feels good when they snuggle in close....:)
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